For a change, the Bangalore openers provided a steady start. There was a conscious effort from them to rotate the strike along with punishing the bad balls. Devdutt Padikkal got out in the last over of the Powerplay but the foundation was laid for Bangalore. However, Kolkata pulled things back through their spinners. They dried out the runs and it was followed by a steady procession of wickets. Sunil Narine was in red-hot form as he hunted down Srikar Bharat, Virat Kohli, AB de Villiers and Glen
Shivam Mavi to Harshal Patel, BYE! A length ball, just outside off. Patel looks to heave it away but misses. Dinesh Karthik also fails to collect the ball. The batters sneak a bye. Bangalore end their innings at 138/7.
Shivam Mavi to Harshal Patel, A length ball, on off. Patel flicks it through mid-wicket for a couple.
Kolkata will be pleased with the way this match has gone so far. Now, the onus is on their batters to overhaul this target and secure a place in Qualifier 2. Kolkata have won all of their 4 matches while chasing in the UAE leg of the Indian T20 League 2021 and let's see what's in store this evening. Stay tuned for the chase...
Shivam Mavi to Harshal Patel, WIDE! A slower full-length ball, wide outside off. Patel leaves it alone. Wide called.
Shivam Mavi to Harshal Patel, ! RUN OUT! There was never a second run here. A full-length ball, outside off. Patel comes across and flicks it to square leg. Lockie Ferguson fumbles and there is a mix-up for the second run. They eventually decide to go for it. Ferguson collects the ball and throws it to the bowler at the non-striker's end. Mavi collects and clips the bails off before Dan Christian could make it in.
Shivam Mavi to Harshal Patel, NOT ! A low dipping full toss, around off. Harshal Patel rocks back and looks to heave but seems to miss it. They appeal and up goes the finger. Patel reviews it straightaway. UltraEdge shows Patel got the toe end of his bat on the ball and the decision has been overturned.Â
Shivam Mavi to Harshal Patel, ! CRACKED! Patel makes the most of the Free Hit. Full toss and outside off, Patel skips down the track and carves it through point for a boundary.
Shivam Mavi to Dan Christian, Full-length ball and wide outside off. Christian goes behind the line and plays it across towards mid-wicket for a single. The siren goes off and the umpire signals a no ball for overstepping. Free Hit to follow.
Shivam Mavi to Harshal Patel, Full toss around off, Patel pushes it to mid off for a single.
Lockie Ferguson to Shahbaz Ahmed, ! CAUGHT! Lockie Ferguson gets his second wicket of the game. Ahmed wanted to go big, looking for the first maximum of the game but he pays the price. A low full toss, on off, Ahmed gets under it and lifts it towards deep mid-wicket. There were two fielders converging but Mavi calls for it and takes it safely.
Lockie Ferguson to Dan Christian, LUCKY! A full-length ball, on off, Christian throws his bat at it. The ball takes the inside edge, scoots past the stumps and goes towards short fine leg. They take one.
Lockie Ferguson to Shahbaz Ahmed, A length ball, outside off. Ahmed looks to pull it away. The ball takes the bottom end and goes towards wide mid off. The batters cross for a single and a direct hit at the striker's end would have been interesting.
Lockie Ferguson to Dan Christian, A length ball, on off, Christian eases it to long off for a single.
Lockie Ferguson to Dan Christian, ! A much-needed boundary for Bangalore. Fuller and outside off, Dan Christian lifts it over extra cover and bags a boundary. Bangalore need many more boundaries at this stage.
Lockie Ferguson to Dan Christian, A slower, full-length ball, outside off. Christian looks to chase it but misses.
The man of the moment, Sunil Narine is up for a chat. He says that it came out well. Adds that to bowl in tandem with other spinners is useful as it creates pressure. Adds that there was more grip than the last game and he thinks that they have done a good job to restrict Bangalore. Tells that he will take this score any day and hopes they will chase it down comfortably.
Shivam Mavi to Shahbaz Ahmed, A couple to end the over! Mavi fires in a yorker on middle, Ahmed digs it out to square leg off the inside half. The batters call for two and get two comfortably. A good over by Mavi, just 6 runs off it. The boundaries have dried up for Bangalore.
Shivam Mavi to Dan Christian, Length ball, around off. Christian shows full face of the bat and pushes it towards mid off for another run.
Shivam Mavi to Shahbaz Ahmed, Another single now! On a length, around off. Ahmed pushes it to point off the under-edge for a single.
Shivam Mavi to Dan Christian, Dan Christian is off the mark with a single. Fuller and on the pads. Christian clips it towards long on for a single.
Shivam Mavi to Dan Christian, Play and a miss! Slightly short and outside off, Christian hangs back and looks to cut it away but misses.
Shivam Mavi to Shahbaz Ahmed, Full length and outside off. Ahmed slaps it through covers for a single.
Sunil Narine to Shahbaz Ahmed, Flatter, quicker and outside off. Ahmed looks to drive but inside-edges it to square leg. Single taken. Sunil Narine is done with his tremendous spell, 4-0-21-4.
Sunil Narine to Shahbaz Ahmed, Almost had him! Tossed up on middle. Ahmed looks to flick but gets a soft leading edge and the ball lobs wide of the bowler.
Sunil Narine to Glenn Maxwell, ! CAUGHT! Sunil Narine gets his fourth wicket! This time Glenn Maxwell departs and it's a body blow to Bangalore. Floated, full and on off, the ball is turning away. Glenn Maxwell swings hard at it but only manages to get a top edge. The ball goes towards short third man and Lockie Ferguson pouches it comfortably.
Sunil Narine to Glenn Maxwell, Another attempt for reverse-sweep but Maxwell only manages to mistime it towards point.
Sunil Narine to Glenn Maxwell, Swing and a miss! Loopy ball, around middle and leg. Maxwell looks to reverse-hit it but misses it completely.
Sunil Narine to Shahbaz Ahmed, ! Shubman Gill does all the hard work but it all goes in vain. Floated, full and on off. Ahmed gets low and slog-sweeps it aerially towards deep mid-wicket. Gill runs to his right but could not grab the ball cleanly. They take one.
Varun Chakravarthy to Glenn Maxwell, Floated, full and outside off. Maxwell blazes his drive through point for a brace. Just 3 runs off the over, Varun Chakravarthy is done with his 4-over spell - 0/20.
Varun Chakravarthy to Glenn Maxwell, Full and on off. Maxwell pushes it to covers but finds the fielder.
Varun Chakravarthy to Shahbaz Ahmed, On the pads, tucked to mid-wicket for a single.
Varun Chakravarthy to Shahbaz Ahmed, NOT ! Shahbaz Ahmed uses the review to save himself. Flighted ball, full and off. Shahbaz Ahmed comes across and looks to reverse sweep it but fails to middle his shot properly. The ball hits the pads and rolls to the leg side. Varun Chakravarthy puts in an appeal. The batters sneak a single. The umpire raises his finger after a lot of thought. Shahbaz Ahmed goes for the DRS and the UltraEdge detects an inside edge.Â
A commendable bowling show by Kolkata! They started a bit on the wrong note in the Powerplay but after that, they bounced back superbly. Kolkata unleashed their trio of spinners and Shakib, Varun and Narine did exceedingly well to pull things back in favour of Kolkata.
George Garton is the new man in.
Review time! Harshal Patel has reviewed an LBW decision. UltraEdge shows a spike as the ball passes the bat and the decision has been overturned.Â
Harshal Patel walks out.
Lockie Ferguson is back on.
Dan Christian is the new man in.
Review time! Shahbaz Ahmed has been given out lbw and he refers it. UltraEdge shows an inside edge and the decision has been overturned.
Strategic Time-Out! Kolkata have held things back very nicely. Sunil Narine has been the go-to bowler as he is looking sharp and working wonders. Bangalore need the current pair to stay in the middle and end the innings with a competitive total.Â
Varun Chakravarthy to Shahbaz Ahmed, Floated, full and on off. Ahmed lobs it towards covers off the leading edge.
Varun Chakravarthy to Shahbaz Ahmed, A dot now. Flatter and outside off. Ahmed looks to cut it away. The ball takes the inner half and bounces beside the keeper.
Sunil Narine to Glenn Maxwell, Shortish and outside off, turning back in sharply to cramp the batsman for room, Glenn Maxwell chops his attempted square cut to point.
Sunil Narine to Glenn Maxwell, Flatter and on off. Glenn Maxwell solidly blocks it.
Sunil Narine to Shahbaz Ahmed, Full and outside off. Shahbaz Ahmed steps down and hits it to long on for a single.
Sunil Narine to Shahbaz Ahmed, EDGY ! Tossed up around off, turning away a bit, Shahbaz Ahmed tries to drive but gets a thick outside edge. It sneaks through the gap between the keeper and first slip for a boundary.
Shahbaz Ahmed walks out.
Sunil Narine to Shahbaz Ahmed, WIDE! Flatter, down leg. Ahmed looks to flick it away but misses. Wide called.
Sunil Narine to AB de Villiers, ! TIMBER! Massive breakthrough for Kolkata as Mr 360 departs without doing any damage. What a night Sunil Narine is having! AB de Villiers has to walk back for 11. Narine serves a loopy ball, around middle, AB de Villiers leans forward and looks to flick it away but misses. The ball sneaks through the gap between the bat and pads to rattle the stumps.
Sunil Narine to AB de Villiers, A couple to start with! Flatter, around middle and leg. AB de Villiers tucks it to mid-wicket for a couple. Good running.
Varun Chakravarthy to AB de Villiers, Loopy ball, on off, clipped to mid-wicket for a single.
Varun Chakravarthy to AB de Villiers, Fires it very full and wide outside off, AB de Villiers leaves it.
Varun Chakravarthy to AB de Villiers, Good work in the deep by Rahul Tripathi! Full and on off. AB de Villiers sweeps it to deep square leg. Tripathi runs across in the deep and does well to save two runs for his team.Â
Varun Chakravarthy to Glenn Maxwell, Flatter and outside off. Glenn Maxwell backs away and drags it to deep mid-wicket for a single.
Varun Chakravarthy to AB de Villiers, A full toss, on off, AB de Villiers skips down and eases it to long on for one more.
Sunil Narine to AB de Villiers, Appeal for an LBW but turned down! This is full and around off, AB de Villiers gets forward and across to flick it away but misses. He gets hit on the pads. They appeal but it's not given. The impact might be outside off.Â
Varun Chakravarthy is back into the attack.
Varun Chakravarthy to Glenn Maxwell, Very full and on off, drilled down to long off for a single.
Sunil Narine to AB de Villiers, ! Good shot! Flatter and on off, AB de Villiers reverse-sweeps it past the diving point fielder for a boundary.
AB de Villiers walks out at number 5.
Sunil Narine to Glenn Maxwell, Full and on off. Glenn Maxwell rocks back and works it to deep point for a single.
Sunil Narine to AB de Villiers, Flatter and outside off, cut away to deep point for a single. AB de Villiers is off the mark.
Sunil Narine to Virat Kohli, ! TIMBER! Huge wicket for Kolkata as the set Virat Kohli has to go back. Fair to say, Sunil Narine is the go-to man for Morgan right now! Tossed up, full and on middle at 91.2 kph, it lands and spins back in. Virat Kohli is too early into his attempted heave across the line and also fails to read the spin. The ball sneaks through and rattles the leg stump.Â
Sunil Narine comes back into the attack. His figures are 1-0-4-1 so far.
Sunil Narine to Glenn Maxwell, This one spins back in from middle, Glenn Maxwell rocks back to pull but it takes the inside edge and deflects off his pads. The ball goes in the gap at mid-wicket and they cross.
Lockie Ferguson to Virat Kohli, ! Bread and butter for Kohli! A full ball, on the pads. Virat Kohli flicks it uppishly over mid-wicket for a boundary.Â
Lockie Ferguson to Virat Kohli, This was served with some pace! On a length and outside off. Kohli looks to go over covers but fails to get any bat on it. 147 kph.
Lockie Ferguson to Glenn Maxwell, Slightly full and on middle, Maxwell nudges it to square leg for one more.
Lockie Ferguson to Virat Kohli, Again full and angling on the pads. Kohli whips it to deep backward square leg for a single.Â
Lockie Ferguson to Virat Kohli, Full and on off, Kohli hits it to mid-wicket.Â
Lockie Ferguson to Glenn Maxwell, Shout for an lbw, not given! On a length, around middle and leg at 146 kph, this one nips back in after landing. Maxwell hangs back and looks to flick but seems to miss it. Kolkata appeal but it's not given. The ball rolls to point and they take a leg bye. Eoin Morgan decides not to review and the replays later show that it was clipping the leg stump. Would have been the umpire's call anyway.
Lockie Ferguson is brought back into the attack. 1/16 in his 2 overs so far.
Lockie Ferguson to Glenn Maxwell, WIDE! Ferguson misses his line as he spills it down the leg side. Maxwell misses his flick.Â
Shakib Al Hasan to Glenn Maxwell, ! Here comes the reverse-hit! This was full and on middle, Maxwell gets into the position quickly and powers it over point for a boundary. Bangalore would hope that this shot breaks the shackles.
Shakib Al Hasan to Glenn Maxwell, Full and on middle. Maxwell gets low and sweeps it to deep square leg to retain the strike. 9 from the over, Shakib finishes his 4-over spell - 0/24.
Shakib Al Hasan to Virat Kohli, Flatter and on off, Kohli punches off the back foot towards covers for a single.
Shakib Al Hasan to Glenn Maxwell, On the pads, worked on the leg side for a single.
Shakib Al Hasan to Virat Kohli, Full and on middle. Kohli heaves it to deep mid-wicket for one more.
Shakib Al Hasan to Glenn Maxwell, Loopy ball, on middle. Maxwell nudges it to the vacant short mid-wicket region for a single.Â
Sunil Narine to Virat Kohli, Floated, full and on middle. Virat defends it back on the deck. Bangalore are 70/2 at the halfway mark.
Sunil Narine to Glenn Maxwell, Full ball, outside off. Maxwell taps it to cover-point and gets off the mark with a single.Â
Glenn Maxwell comes out at number 4.
Sunil Narine to Srikar Bharat, ! TAKEN! Bharat was not middling his shots for a long time and now he pays the price for it. Sunil Narine gets a wicket in his very first over and the hero of the last match walks back for a cheap score. This was full, tossed up and around off. Possibly a carrom ball. Srikar Bharat looks to go downtown but does not hit it with much power. Venkatesh Iyer, at long off, runs to his right and takes a very good catch.Â
Sunil Narine to Virat Kohli, Flatter again, outside off. Kohli hits it softly to point for a quick single.Â
Sunil Narine to Srikar Bharat, Flatter, quicker and outside off, swept to deep mid-wicket for a single.
Sunil Narine comes into the attack now.
Sunil Narine to Virat Kohli, Narine starts with a tossed up ball, full and on middle. Kohli leans and clips it to deep square leg for a single.
Shakib Al Hasan to Virat Kohli, Very full and on off, drilled down to long off for one more.
Shakib Al Hasan to Srikar Bharat, Tossed up on middle. Bharat steps across and nudges it to deep square leg for one.
Shakib Al Hasan to Srikar Bharat, Full and slanting outside off. Bharat leaves it alone.Â
Shakib Al Hasan to Virat Kohli, Tossed up, around leg, flicked to deep mid-wicket for a single.
Shakib Al Hasan to Srikar Bharat, Slight short and outside off. Bharat hangs back and lifts it over covers for a single.
Shakib Al Hasan to Srikar Bharat, Floated, full and on middle, pushed back to the right of the bowler.
Varun Chakravarthy to Srikar Bharat, Full and on middle. Bharat clips it through mid-wicket for a single.
Varun Chakravarthy to Virat Kohli, Floated, full and around off. Kohli stays back and pushes it to covers for another single.
Varun Chakravarthy to Srikar Bharat, Stumping change is missed! Loopy ball, outside off. Bharat skips down the track and looks to play it through the line but misses.
Varun Chakravarthy to Virat Kohli, Full and on middle. Kohli gets low and sweeps it through square leg for a single.
Varun Chakravarthy to Srikar Bharat, Floated, full and around middle. Bharat looks to sweep it away, but gets it off the inner half. The ball rolls to the leg side.
Varun Chakravarthy to Srikar Bharat, Full and on leg. Bharat clips it wide of mid on for a single.
A run out appeal has been taken upstairs! The replay shows Kohli just made his ground with a good dive and it is confirmed by the third umpire as well.Â
Varun Chakravarthy is back on. Went for 7 runs in his first over.
Shakib Al Hasan to Srikar Bharat, A single now, as this is worked to long off. A good over by Shakib Al Hasan. Just 4 runs off it.
Shakib Al Hasan to Srikar Bharat, EDGY! Bharat is early into his shot this time. Floated, around off. Bharat looks to flick it to the leg side. The ball takes the leading edge and goes towards covers.
Shakib Al Hasan to Virat Kohli, Full and on off. Kohli goes back and pushes it to mid off for a single.
Shakib Al Hasan to Virat Kohli, NOT ! Virat Kohli survives. Flatter and on the pads. Kohli hangs back and tucks it to mid-wicket. Kohli is halfway down the crease, looking for a single. But he was sent back. Ferguson collects the ball and throws it to the keeper who breaks the stumps. If the wickets were hit directly, Kohli could have been a goner. The dive saves him here.
Strategic Time-Out! Despite losing Devdutt Padikkal at the very end of the Powerplay, this has been a very good passage of play for Bangalore. They have scored runs at a brisk pace and would look to continue. For Kolkata, they need to chip wickets at regular intervals to pile pressure on Bangalore. Shakib Al Hasan is back into the attack.Â
Shakib Al Hasan to Srikar Bharat, Tossed up, on off. Bharat mistimes his shot aerially towards mid on. The ball lands safely. They take another single.
Shakib Al Hasan to Virat Kohli, A single now! Floated, full and off. Kohli comes down the track and drives it towards mid off. Eoin Morgan dives to his right to make a half stop. They take one.
Lockie Ferguson to Virat Kohli, Fuller and on off, Virat Kohli uses his wrists and works it towards mid-wicket for a run.
Lockie Ferguson to Virat Kohli, Another single. Full and outside off, Virat drives it through cover-point. At the end of the Powerplay, Bangalore are 53/1.
Lockie Ferguson to Srikar Bharat, Slower one, at 117.5 kph, full and wide outside off, Srikar Bharat mistimes his drive to point. Kohli calls him through for a single.
Lockie Ferguson to Srikar Bharat, Off the mark! A touch short and on middle at 148.9 kph, Srikar Bharat glances it to deep square leg for a run. 50 up!
Lockie Ferguson to Srikar Bharat, Back of a length, around off at 145.1 kph, Bharat goes on his toes and defends it on the leg side.
Srikar Bharat walks out at number 3.
Lockie Ferguson to Devdutt Padikkal, ! DRAGS IT ON! Lockie Ferguson strikes and roars in delight. The Kiwi speeds in from 'round the wicket and lands it on a length outside off at 149 kph, Devdutt Padikkal stands back to whack it through the line but it takes the inner portion of his blade and cannons onto the stumps. The 49-run opening stand has been broken and Kolkata would be feeling a lot better now.
Shivam Mavi to Devdutt Padikkal, Fuller around middle and off, at 140.9 kph, Devdutt Padikkal opens the face of the bat and pushes it through point for one. 13 from the over.
Shivam Mavi to Virat Kohli, Fails to put it away. Full toss around off, Virat Kohli strokes it through the line but finds the fielder at the edge of the circle at extra cover. Takes a single.
Shivam Mavi to Devdutt Padikkal, Use of the feet from Devdutt Padikkal. He walks down the track to a length ball and goes hard at it. Doesn't time it well but it rolls wide of mid off and hence a run is taken.Â
Shivam Mavi to Devdutt Padikkal, Wide! Shivam Mavi is feeling the heat. Attempts a slower one but it's way down the leg side, Padikkal leaves it.
Shivam Mavi to Devdutt Padikkal, Four leg byes! They all count. Wrong line from Mavi. Serves it on a length around leg, Devdutt Padikkal fails to flick but it takes his thigh pad and speeds wide of Dinesh Karthik for a boundary at fine leg.
Shivam Mavi to Virat Kohli, Tap and run. Around off on a length, Kohli bunts it down towards wide mid off and rotates the strike.
Shivam Mavi is back into the attack. Went for 10 runs in his first over.Â
Shivam Mavi to Virat Kohli, ! Virat Kohli goes aerial and fetches a boundary. This one is served on a length, around middle and off, Virat steps back and lofts it with ease over extra cover. The fielder chases but fails to pull it back.
Lockie Ferguson to Devdutt Padikkal, Fullish and around off at 149.1 kph, Devdutt Padikkal leans forward and threads his drive through the gap at covers for a couple. 12 from the over and it's been a steady start from Bangalore.
Lockie Ferguson to Devdutt Padikkal, ! Well played! A 147 kph delivery, on a length and around the leg stump line, asking to be hit. Devdutt Padikkal picks it off his pads and deflects it wide of short fine leg.
Lockie Ferguson to Virat Kohli, Fuller and on off, Kohli works it across the line, towards wide mid on as the mid-wicket fielder tries to intervene. They take another quick single.
Lockie Ferguson to Devdutt Padikkal, A direct hit would have been interesting. Fuller and on middle, Padikkal pushes it towards mid off and scampers to the other end. The fielder misses his shy at the bowler's end as Devdutt dives in.
Lockie Ferguson to Devdutt Padikkal, Fuller and on middle, Devdutt Padikkal hits across the line but finds mid-wicket.
Lockie Ferguson to Devdutt Padikkal, ! Clever from Devdutt Padikkal. Lockie Ferguson begins with a shortish delivery, around off at 142 clicks, Padikkal hangs on the back foot, uses the pace of the bowler and glides it over short third man.Â
Lockie Ferguson is into the attack.
Varun Chakravarthy to Devdutt Padikkal, Great stop by Venkatesh Iyer! Saves a certain boundary. Fuller and on off, Padikkal blazes his drive to the right of mid off. Iyer puts in a dive to stop the racing ball. Saves three.Â
Varun Chakravarthy to Virat Kohli, Use of the wrists by Kohli. Fullish and on middle, Virat leans forward and works it wide of short mid-wicket for a single.
Varun Chakravarthy to Devdutt Padikkal, Loopy one, full and around middle, Devdutt Padikkal drives it past the bowler to mid off. They cross for another brisk run as Venkatesh Iyer fires his throw at the keeper's end.
Varun Chakravarthy is into the attack.
Varun Chakravarthy to Devdutt Padikkal, Varun Chakravarthy drags his length short and delivers it on off, Devdutt Padikkal goes back and strokes it through covers for a brace.
Varun Chakravarthy to Virat Kohli, Once again it's a great piece of running between the wickets. Tossed up, full and around off, Kohli pushes it defensively to covers and pinches one.
Shivam Mavi to Virat Kohli, ! A good over from Mavi gets spoiled in the end. Mavi goes wide of the crease and probably wants to bowl a yorker. But the execution is not there. It's a full toss outside off and Virat slices it behind backward point for a boundary.
Varun Chakravarthy to Devdutt Padikkal, Quick run. Flighted and around off, Devdutt Padikkal tries to defend but it catches the outside edge and dribbles to short third man. They steal a quick single.
Shivam Mavi to Virat Kohli, ! Once again a boundary on the last ball of the over. Fuller in length and outside off, in the slot for the cover drive and Kohli unleashes it over the infield for a boundary. It's also a no ball for overstepping. Free Hit coming...
Shivam Mavi to Virat Kohli, Another dot ball. Back of a length and outside off, Kohli opens the face of the bat late but fails to beat the short third man fielder.
Shivam Mavi to Virat Kohli, Mavi speeds in and lands it on a length outside off, Virat steps forward but fails to time his shot properly. Ends up pushing it to mid on.Â
Shivam Mavi to Devdutt Padikkal, Pitches it up and around off, Devdutt Padikkal pushes it with gentle hands towards mid off and scampers across for a quick run.
Shivam Mavi to Devdutt Padikkal, On a length, around middle and off, Padikkal helps it on the leg side but finds mid-wicket.
Shivam Mavi to Devdutt Padikkal, Starts with a delivery around middle, Devdutt Padikkal defends it back from the crease.
Who will bowl from the other end? It is Shivam Mavi.
Shakib Al Hasan to Virat Kohli, ! First of the game. Shakib gets his line fractionally wrong. It's around leg and skidding in, Virat Kohli is quick to go down as he sweeps it firmly to the deep square leg fence.
Shakib Al Hasan to Virat Kohli, Good lines from Shakib. Keeps it around off, no room, Kohli moves back and helps it to short mid-wicket.
Shakib Al Hasan to Virat Kohli, Shortish and on off, Kohli goes deep inside the crease and plays it towards extra cover.
Shakib Al Hasan to Devdutt Padikkal, Quicker one, flat and around off, once again Devdutt Padikkal punches it from the crease towards long on for one.
Shakib Al Hasan to Virat Kohli, A bit aerial but wide of the fielder. Floated and full around middle and off, holding up a bit, Virat flicks it wide of short mid-wicket and crosses for a single.
Shakib Al Hasan to Devdutt Padikkal, Starts with a flatter and shorter ball on off, Padikkal goes on the back foot and punches it towards long on. They take a single.
We are all set for the action. Out walk the players of Kolkata and they are followed by the openers of Bangalore, Virat Kohli and Devdutt Padikkal. Shakib Al Hasan to start with the ball. Here we go...
Glenn Maxwell is up for a chat. The Aussie says that they had a couple of good sessions and they are looking forward to this game. About Srikar Bharat, he says that it was an amazing night and it was great to head into the playoffs in that fashion. Mentions that it gives the group a lot of confidence. Talking about himself, he says that he tries to keep it simple and is comfortable in his role and the consistency has been really rewarding. Tells that they need to score as many runs in the first
Did you know? Kolkata have won all of their 4 matches while chasing in the UAE leg of the Indian T20 League 2021. Have Bangalore missed a trick?
Eoin Morgan, the skipper of Kolkata, says that he wanted to bowl first anyway. Says the wicket looks a bit different and chasing doesn't look that bad. Adds that they have played some great games and the players are fulfilling the roles and they have started to peak at the right time. Informs that they are going in unchanged.
Virat Kohli, the Bangalore skipper, is up for a chat. Says that the wicket looks great and as the game progresses it becomes tougher to bat. Mentions that there are no changes. On Srikar Bharat's knock in the last game, Kohli replies that the youngsters stepping up to win the match is particularly pleasing and he is very happy for Srikar.  Shares that the meeting has been short and sharp, focus on the basics and nothing changes for them regardless of this being the Eliminator.
Bangalore (Unchanged Playing XI) - Virat Kohli (C), Devdutt Padikkal, Srikar Bharat (WK), Glenn Maxwell, AB de Villiers, Dan Christian, Shahbaz Ahmed, George Garton, Harshal Patel, Yuzvendra Chahal, Mohammed Siraj.
Toss - Virat Kohli and Eoin Morgan are in the middle. The former flips the coin, Heads is the call but it has come down as Tails. BANGALORE ELECT TO BAT!
... MATCH DAY ...
Eliminator! The name itself is enough to scare and put pressure. It's that stage of the tournament where one moment of brilliance or madness decides your future. All the hard work done in the past can quickly go down the drain if you're not on top of your game. Both Bangalore and Kolkata will be aware that the stakes are very high this evening, and it's time to either perform or perish. On that note, we welcome you all to the coverage of this match in Sharjah. Stay with us for more updates...Â
Last meeting - That was the game where Kolkata turned their season upside down. In their first match after the resumption, Bangalore and Kolkata faced each other and the former was bundled out for only 92. Kolkata overhauled the target in 10 overs, unearthed a new talent in Venkatesh Iyer and handed a thrashing to Virat Kohli in his 200th game for Bangalore. Is revenge in store?
How's the pitch? The first thing that Matthew Hayden points out is about the 'Sharjah sheen'. It's been missing so far but the Aussie informs that the sheen is back and the pitch doesn't have too many cracks. Let's hope to have a high-scoring game.
If there's one team that benefited the most from the forced break, then it has to be Kolkata. They were in the doldrums with just two wins in 7 games when the season was suspended in May. The break allowed them to rethink their strategies and they have come out more fearless in the UAE leg. Under Eoin Morgan and Brendon McCullum, who are known for their aggressive style to play the game, the players are given the license to go for the kill and you can see that in their batting. The 2-time champi
In almost every edition of the Indian T20 League, the optimistic fans of Bangalore start this slogan - 'Ee Sala Cup Namde' (this time Cup is ours) and in 2021, they've every reason to believe that this is finally the year when they can fulfill their lifelong dream of winning the elusive trophy. Bangalore have been performing with great consistency, in both the legs of this season and have all the resources to march into Qualifier 2. Their batting has always been rock solid but for a change, this
We are all set for the chase.
... THE RUN CHASE ...
For a change, the Bangalore openers provided a steady start. There was a conscious effort from them to rotate the strike along with punishing the bad balls. Devdutt Padikkal got out in the last over of the Powerplay but the foundation was laid for Bangalore. However, Kolkata pulled things back through their spinners. They dried out the runs and it was followed by a steady procession of wickets. Sunil Narine was in red-hot form as he hunted down Srikar Bharat, Virat Kohli, AB de Villiers and Glen
Shivam Mavi to Harshal Patel, BYE! A length ball, just outside off. Patel looks to heave it away but misses. Dinesh Karthik also fails to collect the ball. The batters sneak a bye. Bangalore end their innings at 138/7.
Shivam Mavi to Harshal Patel, A length ball, on off. Patel flicks it through mid-wicket for a couple.
Kolkata will be pleased with the way this match has gone so far. Now, the onus is on their batters to overhaul this target and secure a place in Qualifier 2. Kolkata have won all of their 4 matches while chasing in the UAE leg of the Indian T20 League 2021 and let's see what's in store this evening. Stay tuned for the chase...
Shivam Mavi to Harshal Patel, WIDE! A slower full-length ball, wide outside off. Patel leaves it alone. Wide called.
Shivam Mavi to Harshal Patel, ! RUN OUT! There was never a second run here. A full-length ball, outside off. Patel comes across and flicks it to square leg. Lockie Ferguson fumbles and there is a mix-up for the second run. They eventually decide to go for it. Ferguson collects the ball and throws it to the bowler at the non-striker's end. Mavi collects and clips the bails off before Dan Christian could make it in.
Shivam Mavi to Harshal Patel, NOT ! A low dipping full toss, around off. Harshal Patel rocks back and looks to heave but seems to miss it. They appeal and up goes the finger. Patel reviews it straightaway. UltraEdge shows Patel got the toe end of his bat on the ball and the decision has been overturned.Â
Shivam Mavi to Harshal Patel, ! CRACKED! Patel makes the most of the Free Hit. Full toss and outside off, Patel skips down the track and carves it through point for a boundary.
Shivam Mavi to Dan Christian, Full-length ball and wide outside off. Christian goes behind the line and plays it across towards mid-wicket for a single. The siren goes off and the umpire signals a no ball for overstepping. Free Hit to follow.
Shivam Mavi to Harshal Patel, Full toss around off, Patel pushes it to mid off for a single.
Lockie Ferguson to Shahbaz Ahmed, ! CAUGHT! Lockie Ferguson gets his second wicket of the game. Ahmed wanted to go big, looking for the first maximum of the game but he pays the price. A low full toss, on off, Ahmed gets under it and lifts it towards deep mid-wicket. There were two fielders converging but Mavi calls for it and takes it safely.
Lockie Ferguson to Dan Christian, LUCKY! A full-length ball, on off, Christian throws his bat at it. The ball takes the inside edge, scoots past the stumps and goes towards short fine leg. They take one.
Lockie Ferguson to Shahbaz Ahmed, A length ball, outside off. Ahmed looks to pull it away. The ball takes the bottom end and goes towards wide mid off. The batters cross for a single and a direct hit at the striker's end would have been interesting.
Lockie Ferguson to Dan Christian, A length ball, on off, Christian eases it to long off for a single.
Lockie Ferguson to Dan Christian, ! A much-needed boundary for Bangalore. Fuller and outside off, Dan Christian lifts it over extra cover and bags a boundary. Bangalore need many more boundaries at this stage.
Lockie Ferguson to Dan Christian, A slower, full-length ball, outside off. Christian looks to chase it but misses.
The man of the moment, Sunil Narine is up for a chat. He says that it came out well. Adds that to bowl in tandem with other spinners is useful as it creates pressure. Adds that there was more grip than the last game and he thinks that they have done a good job to restrict Bangalore. Tells that he will take this score any day and hopes they will chase it down comfortably.
Shivam Mavi to Shahbaz Ahmed, A couple to end the over! Mavi fires in a yorker on middle, Ahmed digs it out to square leg off the inside half. The batters call for two and get two comfortably. A good over by Mavi, just 6 runs off it. The boundaries have dried up for Bangalore.
Shivam Mavi to Dan Christian, Length ball, around off. Christian shows full face of the bat and pushes it towards mid off for another run.
Shivam Mavi to Shahbaz Ahmed, Another single now! On a length, around off. Ahmed pushes it to point off the under-edge for a single.
Shivam Mavi to Dan Christian, Dan Christian is off the mark with a single. Fuller and on the pads. Christian clips it towards long on for a single.
Shivam Mavi to Dan Christian, Play and a miss! Slightly short and outside off, Christian hangs back and looks to cut it away but misses.
Shivam Mavi to Shahbaz Ahmed, Full length and outside off. Ahmed slaps it through covers for a single.
Sunil Narine to Shahbaz Ahmed, Flatter, quicker and outside off. Ahmed looks to drive but inside-edges it to square leg. Single taken. Sunil Narine is done with his tremendous spell, 4-0-21-4.
Sunil Narine to Shahbaz Ahmed, Almost had him! Tossed up on middle. Ahmed looks to flick but gets a soft leading edge and the ball lobs wide of the bowler.
Sunil Narine to Glenn Maxwell, ! CAUGHT! Sunil Narine gets his fourth wicket! This time Glenn Maxwell departs and it's a body blow to Bangalore. Floated, full and on off, the ball is turning away. Glenn Maxwell swings hard at it but only manages to get a top edge. The ball goes towards short third man and Lockie Ferguson pouches it comfortably.
Sunil Narine to Glenn Maxwell, Another attempt for reverse-sweep but Maxwell only manages to mistime it towards point.
Sunil Narine to Glenn Maxwell, Swing and a miss! Loopy ball, around middle and leg. Maxwell looks to reverse-hit it but misses it completely.
Sunil Narine to Shahbaz Ahmed, ! Shubman Gill does all the hard work but it all goes in vain. Floated, full and on off. Ahmed gets low and slog-sweeps it aerially towards deep mid-wicket. Gill runs to his right but could not grab the ball cleanly. They take one.
Varun Chakravarthy to Glenn Maxwell, Floated, full and outside off. Maxwell blazes his drive through point for a brace. Just 3 runs off the over, Varun Chakravarthy is done with his 4-over spell - 0/20.
Varun Chakravarthy to Glenn Maxwell, Full and on off. Maxwell pushes it to covers but finds the fielder.
Varun Chakravarthy to Shahbaz Ahmed, On the pads, tucked to mid-wicket for a single.
Varun Chakravarthy to Shahbaz Ahmed, NOT ! Shahbaz Ahmed uses the review to save himself. Flighted ball, full and off. Shahbaz Ahmed comes across and looks to reverse sweep it but fails to middle his shot properly. The ball hits the pads and rolls to the leg side. Varun Chakravarthy puts in an appeal. The batters sneak a single. The umpire raises his finger after a lot of thought. Shahbaz Ahmed goes for the DRS and the UltraEdge detects an inside edge.Â
A commendable bowling show by Kolkata! They started a bit on the wrong note in the Powerplay but after that, they bounced back superbly. Kolkata unleashed their trio of spinners and Shakib, Varun and Narine did exceedingly well to pull things back in favour of Kolkata.
George Garton is the new man in.
Review time! Harshal Patel has reviewed an LBW decision. UltraEdge shows a spike as the ball passes the bat and the decision has been overturned.Â
Harshal Patel walks out.
Lockie Ferguson is back on.
Dan Christian is the new man in.
Review time! Shahbaz Ahmed has been given out lbw and he refers it. UltraEdge shows an inside edge and the decision has been overturned.
Strategic Time-Out! Kolkata have held things back very nicely. Sunil Narine has been the go-to bowler as he is looking sharp and working wonders. Bangalore need the current pair to stay in the middle and end the innings with a competitive total.Â
Varun Chakravarthy to Shahbaz Ahmed, Floated, full and on off. Ahmed lobs it towards covers off the leading edge.
Varun Chakravarthy to Shahbaz Ahmed, A dot now. Flatter and outside off. Ahmed looks to cut it away. The ball takes the inner half and bounces beside the keeper.
Sunil Narine to Glenn Maxwell, Shortish and outside off, turning back in sharply to cramp the batsman for room, Glenn Maxwell chops his attempted square cut to point.
Sunil Narine to Glenn Maxwell, Flatter and on off. Glenn Maxwell solidly blocks it.
Sunil Narine to Shahbaz Ahmed, Full and outside off. Shahbaz Ahmed steps down and hits it to long on for a single.
Sunil Narine to Shahbaz Ahmed, EDGY ! Tossed up around off, turning away a bit, Shahbaz Ahmed tries to drive but gets a thick outside edge. It sneaks through the gap between the keeper and first slip for a boundary.
Shahbaz Ahmed walks out.
Sunil Narine to Shahbaz Ahmed, WIDE! Flatter, down leg. Ahmed looks to flick it away but misses. Wide called.
Sunil Narine to AB de Villiers, ! TIMBER! Massive breakthrough for Kolkata as Mr 360 departs without doing any damage. What a night Sunil Narine is having! AB de Villiers has to walk back for 11. Narine serves a loopy ball, around middle, AB de Villiers leans forward and looks to flick it away but misses. The ball sneaks through the gap between the bat and pads to rattle the stumps.
Sunil Narine to AB de Villiers, A couple to start with! Flatter, around middle and leg. AB de Villiers tucks it to mid-wicket for a couple. Good running.
Varun Chakravarthy to AB de Villiers, Loopy ball, on off, clipped to mid-wicket for a single.
Varun Chakravarthy to AB de Villiers, Fires it very full and wide outside off, AB de Villiers leaves it.
Varun Chakravarthy to AB de Villiers, Good work in the deep by Rahul Tripathi! Full and on off. AB de Villiers sweeps it to deep square leg. Tripathi runs across in the deep and does well to save two runs for his team.Â
Varun Chakravarthy to Glenn Maxwell, Flatter and outside off. Glenn Maxwell backs away and drags it to deep mid-wicket for a single.
Varun Chakravarthy to AB de Villiers, A full toss, on off, AB de Villiers skips down and eases it to long on for one more.
Sunil Narine to AB de Villiers, Appeal for an LBW but turned down! This is full and around off, AB de Villiers gets forward and across to flick it away but misses. He gets hit on the pads. They appeal but it's not given. The impact might be outside off.Â
Varun Chakravarthy is back into the attack.
Varun Chakravarthy to Glenn Maxwell, Very full and on off, drilled down to long off for a single.
Sunil Narine to AB de Villiers, ! Good shot! Flatter and on off, AB de Villiers reverse-sweeps it past the diving point fielder for a boundary.
AB de Villiers walks out at number 5.
Sunil Narine to Glenn Maxwell, Full and on off. Glenn Maxwell rocks back and works it to deep point for a single.
Sunil Narine to AB de Villiers, Flatter and outside off, cut away to deep point for a single. AB de Villiers is off the mark.
Sunil Narine to Virat Kohli, ! TIMBER! Huge wicket for Kolkata as the set Virat Kohli has to go back. Fair to say, Sunil Narine is the go-to man for Morgan right now! Tossed up, full and on middle at 91.2 kph, it lands and spins back in. Virat Kohli is too early into his attempted heave across the line and also fails to read the spin. The ball sneaks through and rattles the leg stump.Â
Sunil Narine comes back into the attack. His figures are 1-0-4-1 so far.
Sunil Narine to Glenn Maxwell, This one spins back in from middle, Glenn Maxwell rocks back to pull but it takes the inside edge and deflects off his pads. The ball goes in the gap at mid-wicket and they cross.
Lockie Ferguson to Virat Kohli, ! Bread and butter for Kohli! A full ball, on the pads. Virat Kohli flicks it uppishly over mid-wicket for a boundary.Â
Lockie Ferguson to Virat Kohli, This was served with some pace! On a length and outside off. Kohli looks to go over covers but fails to get any bat on it. 147 kph.
Lockie Ferguson to Glenn Maxwell, Slightly full and on middle, Maxwell nudges it to square leg for one more.
Lockie Ferguson to Virat Kohli, Again full and angling on the pads. Kohli whips it to deep backward square leg for a single.Â
Lockie Ferguson to Virat Kohli, Full and on off, Kohli hits it to mid-wicket.Â
Lockie Ferguson to Glenn Maxwell, Shout for an lbw, not given! On a length, around middle and leg at 146 kph, this one nips back in after landing. Maxwell hangs back and looks to flick but seems to miss it. Kolkata appeal but it's not given. The ball rolls to point and they take a leg bye. Eoin Morgan decides not to review and the replays later show that it was clipping the leg stump. Would have been the umpire's call anyway.
Lockie Ferguson is brought back into the attack. 1/16 in his 2 overs so far.
Lockie Ferguson to Glenn Maxwell, WIDE! Ferguson misses his line as he spills it down the leg side. Maxwell misses his flick.Â
Shakib Al Hasan to Glenn Maxwell, ! Here comes the reverse-hit! This was full and on middle, Maxwell gets into the position quickly and powers it over point for a boundary. Bangalore would hope that this shot breaks the shackles.
Shakib Al Hasan to Glenn Maxwell, Full and on middle. Maxwell gets low and sweeps it to deep square leg to retain the strike. 9 from the over, Shakib finishes his 4-over spell - 0/24.
Shakib Al Hasan to Virat Kohli, Flatter and on off, Kohli punches off the back foot towards covers for a single.
Shakib Al Hasan to Glenn Maxwell, On the pads, worked on the leg side for a single.
Shakib Al Hasan to Virat Kohli, Full and on middle. Kohli heaves it to deep mid-wicket for one more.
Shakib Al Hasan to Glenn Maxwell, Loopy ball, on middle. Maxwell nudges it to the vacant short mid-wicket region for a single.Â
Sunil Narine to Virat Kohli, Floated, full and on middle. Virat defends it back on the deck. Bangalore are 70/2 at the halfway mark.
Sunil Narine to Glenn Maxwell, Full ball, outside off. Maxwell taps it to cover-point and gets off the mark with a single.Â
Glenn Maxwell comes out at number 4.
Sunil Narine to Srikar Bharat, ! TAKEN! Bharat was not middling his shots for a long time and now he pays the price for it. Sunil Narine gets a wicket in his very first over and the hero of the last match walks back for a cheap score. This was full, tossed up and around off. Possibly a carrom ball. Srikar Bharat looks to go downtown but does not hit it with much power. Venkatesh Iyer, at long off, runs to his right and takes a very good catch.Â
Sunil Narine to Virat Kohli, Flatter again, outside off. Kohli hits it softly to point for a quick single.Â
Sunil Narine to Srikar Bharat, Flatter, quicker and outside off, swept to deep mid-wicket for a single.
Sunil Narine comes into the attack now.
Sunil Narine to Virat Kohli, Narine starts with a tossed up ball, full and on middle. Kohli leans and clips it to deep square leg for a single.
Shakib Al Hasan to Virat Kohli, Very full and on off, drilled down to long off for one more.
Shakib Al Hasan to Srikar Bharat, Tossed up on middle. Bharat steps across and nudges it to deep square leg for one.
Shakib Al Hasan to Srikar Bharat, Full and slanting outside off. Bharat leaves it alone.Â
Shakib Al Hasan to Virat Kohli, Tossed up, around leg, flicked to deep mid-wicket for a single.
Shakib Al Hasan to Srikar Bharat, Slight short and outside off. Bharat hangs back and lifts it over covers for a single.
Shakib Al Hasan to Srikar Bharat, Floated, full and on middle, pushed back to the right of the bowler.
Varun Chakravarthy to Srikar Bharat, Full and on middle. Bharat clips it through mid-wicket for a single.
Varun Chakravarthy to Virat Kohli, Floated, full and around off. Kohli stays back and pushes it to covers for another single.
Varun Chakravarthy to Srikar Bharat, Stumping change is missed! Loopy ball, outside off. Bharat skips down the track and looks to play it through the line but misses.
Varun Chakravarthy to Virat Kohli, Full and on middle. Kohli gets low and sweeps it through square leg for a single.
Varun Chakravarthy to Srikar Bharat, Floated, full and around middle. Bharat looks to sweep it away, but gets it off the inner half. The ball rolls to the leg side.
Varun Chakravarthy to Srikar Bharat, Full and on leg. Bharat clips it wide of mid on for a single.
A run out appeal has been taken upstairs! The replay shows Kohli just made his ground with a good dive and it is confirmed by the third umpire as well.Â
Varun Chakravarthy is back on. Went for 7 runs in his first over.
Shakib Al Hasan to Srikar Bharat, A single now, as this is worked to long off. A good over by Shakib Al Hasan. Just 4 runs off it.
Shakib Al Hasan to Srikar Bharat, EDGY! Bharat is early into his shot this time. Floated, around off. Bharat looks to flick it to the leg side. The ball takes the leading edge and goes towards covers.
Shakib Al Hasan to Virat Kohli, Full and on off. Kohli goes back and pushes it to mid off for a single.
Shakib Al Hasan to Virat Kohli, NOT ! Virat Kohli survives. Flatter and on the pads. Kohli hangs back and tucks it to mid-wicket. Kohli is halfway down the crease, looking for a single. But he was sent back. Ferguson collects the ball and throws it to the keeper who breaks the stumps. If the wickets were hit directly, Kohli could have been a goner. The dive saves him here.
Strategic Time-Out! Despite losing Devdutt Padikkal at the very end of the Powerplay, this has been a very good passage of play for Bangalore. They have scored runs at a brisk pace and would look to continue. For Kolkata, they need to chip wickets at regular intervals to pile pressure on Bangalore. Shakib Al Hasan is back into the attack.Â
Shakib Al Hasan to Srikar Bharat, Tossed up, on off. Bharat mistimes his shot aerially towards mid on. The ball lands safely. They take another single.
Shakib Al Hasan to Virat Kohli, A single now! Floated, full and off. Kohli comes down the track and drives it towards mid off. Eoin Morgan dives to his right to make a half stop. They take one.
Lockie Ferguson to Virat Kohli, Fuller and on off, Virat Kohli uses his wrists and works it towards mid-wicket for a run.
Lockie Ferguson to Virat Kohli, Another single. Full and outside off, Virat drives it through cover-point. At the end of the Powerplay, Bangalore are 53/1.
Lockie Ferguson to Srikar Bharat, Slower one, at 117.5 kph, full and wide outside off, Srikar Bharat mistimes his drive to point. Kohli calls him through for a single.
Lockie Ferguson to Srikar Bharat, Off the mark! A touch short and on middle at 148.9 kph, Srikar Bharat glances it to deep square leg for a run. 50 up!
Lockie Ferguson to Srikar Bharat, Back of a length, around off at 145.1 kph, Bharat goes on his toes and defends it on the leg side.
Srikar Bharat walks out at number 3.
Lockie Ferguson to Devdutt Padikkal, ! DRAGS IT ON! Lockie Ferguson strikes and roars in delight. The Kiwi speeds in from 'round the wicket and lands it on a length outside off at 149 kph, Devdutt Padikkal stands back to whack it through the line but it takes the inner portion of his blade and cannons onto the stumps. The 49-run opening stand has been broken and Kolkata would be feeling a lot better now.
Shivam Mavi to Devdutt Padikkal, Fuller around middle and off, at 140.9 kph, Devdutt Padikkal opens the face of the bat and pushes it through point for one. 13 from the over.
Shivam Mavi to Virat Kohli, Fails to put it away. Full toss around off, Virat Kohli strokes it through the line but finds the fielder at the edge of the circle at extra cover. Takes a single.
Shivam Mavi to Devdutt Padikkal, Use of the feet from Devdutt Padikkal. He walks down the track to a length ball and goes hard at it. Doesn't time it well but it rolls wide of mid off and hence a run is taken.Â
Shivam Mavi to Devdutt Padikkal, Wide! Shivam Mavi is feeling the heat. Attempts a slower one but it's way down the leg side, Padikkal leaves it.
Shivam Mavi to Devdutt Padikkal, Four leg byes! They all count. Wrong line from Mavi. Serves it on a length around leg, Devdutt Padikkal fails to flick but it takes his thigh pad and speeds wide of Dinesh Karthik for a boundary at fine leg.
Shivam Mavi to Virat Kohli, Tap and run. Around off on a length, Kohli bunts it down towards wide mid off and rotates the strike.
Shivam Mavi is back into the attack. Went for 10 runs in his first over.Â
Shivam Mavi to Virat Kohli, ! Virat Kohli goes aerial and fetches a boundary. This one is served on a length, around middle and off, Virat steps back and lofts it with ease over extra cover. The fielder chases but fails to pull it back.
Lockie Ferguson to Devdutt Padikkal, Fullish and around off at 149.1 kph, Devdutt Padikkal leans forward and threads his drive through the gap at covers for a couple. 12 from the over and it's been a steady start from Bangalore.
Lockie Ferguson to Devdutt Padikkal, ! Well played! A 147 kph delivery, on a length and around the leg stump line, asking to be hit. Devdutt Padikkal picks it off his pads and deflects it wide of short fine leg.
Lockie Ferguson to Virat Kohli, Fuller and on off, Kohli works it across the line, towards wide mid on as the mid-wicket fielder tries to intervene. They take another quick single.
Lockie Ferguson to Devdutt Padikkal, A direct hit would have been interesting. Fuller and on middle, Padikkal pushes it towards mid off and scampers to the other end. The fielder misses his shy at the bowler's end as Devdutt dives in.
Lockie Ferguson to Devdutt Padikkal, Fuller and on middle, Devdutt Padikkal hits across the line but finds mid-wicket.
Lockie Ferguson to Devdutt Padikkal, ! Clever from Devdutt Padikkal. Lockie Ferguson begins with a shortish delivery, around off at 142 clicks, Padikkal hangs on the back foot, uses the pace of the bowler and glides it over short third man.Â
Lockie Ferguson is into the attack.
Varun Chakravarthy to Devdutt Padikkal, Great stop by Venkatesh Iyer! Saves a certain boundary. Fuller and on off, Padikkal blazes his drive to the right of mid off. Iyer puts in a dive to stop the racing ball. Saves three.Â
Varun Chakravarthy to Virat Kohli, Use of the wrists by Kohli. Fullish and on middle, Virat leans forward and works it wide of short mid-wicket for a single.
Varun Chakravarthy to Devdutt Padikkal, Loopy one, full and around middle, Devdutt Padikkal drives it past the bowler to mid off. They cross for another brisk run as Venkatesh Iyer fires his throw at the keeper's end.
Varun Chakravarthy is into the attack.
Varun Chakravarthy to Devdutt Padikkal, Varun Chakravarthy drags his length short and delivers it on off, Devdutt Padikkal goes back and strokes it through covers for a brace.
Varun Chakravarthy to Virat Kohli, Once again it's a great piece of running between the wickets. Tossed up, full and around off, Kohli pushes it defensively to covers and pinches one.
Shivam Mavi to Virat Kohli, ! A good over from Mavi gets spoiled in the end. Mavi goes wide of the crease and probably wants to bowl a yorker. But the execution is not there. It's a full toss outside off and Virat slices it behind backward point for a boundary.
Varun Chakravarthy to Devdutt Padikkal, Quick run. Flighted and around off, Devdutt Padikkal tries to defend but it catches the outside edge and dribbles to short third man. They steal a quick single.
Shivam Mavi to Virat Kohli, ! Once again a boundary on the last ball of the over. Fuller in length and outside off, in the slot for the cover drive and Kohli unleashes it over the infield for a boundary. It's also a no ball for overstepping. Free Hit coming...
Shivam Mavi to Virat Kohli, Another dot ball. Back of a length and outside off, Kohli opens the face of the bat late but fails to beat the short third man fielder.
Shivam Mavi to Virat Kohli, Mavi speeds in and lands it on a length outside off, Virat steps forward but fails to time his shot properly. Ends up pushing it to mid on.Â
Shivam Mavi to Devdutt Padikkal, Pitches it up and around off, Devdutt Padikkal pushes it with gentle hands towards mid off and scampers across for a quick run.
Shivam Mavi to Devdutt Padikkal, On a length, around middle and off, Padikkal helps it on the leg side but finds mid-wicket.
Shivam Mavi to Devdutt Padikkal, Starts with a delivery around middle, Devdutt Padikkal defends it back from the crease.
Who will bowl from the other end? It is Shivam Mavi.
Shakib Al Hasan to Virat Kohli, ! First of the game. Shakib gets his line fractionally wrong. It's around leg and skidding in, Virat Kohli is quick to go down as he sweeps it firmly to the deep square leg fence.
Shakib Al Hasan to Virat Kohli, Good lines from Shakib. Keeps it around off, no room, Kohli moves back and helps it to short mid-wicket.
Shakib Al Hasan to Virat Kohli, Shortish and on off, Kohli goes deep inside the crease and plays it towards extra cover.
Shakib Al Hasan to Devdutt Padikkal, Quicker one, flat and around off, once again Devdutt Padikkal punches it from the crease towards long on for one.
Shakib Al Hasan to Virat Kohli, A bit aerial but wide of the fielder. Floated and full around middle and off, holding up a bit, Virat flicks it wide of short mid-wicket and crosses for a single.
Shakib Al Hasan to Devdutt Padikkal, Starts with a flatter and shorter ball on off, Padikkal goes on the back foot and punches it towards long on. They take a single.
We are all set for the action. Out walk the players of Kolkata and they are followed by the openers of Bangalore, Virat Kohli and Devdutt Padikkal. Shakib Al Hasan to start with the ball. Here we go...
Glenn Maxwell is up for a chat. The Aussie says that they had a couple of good sessions and they are looking forward to this game. About Srikar Bharat, he says that it was an amazing night and it was great to head into the playoffs in that fashion. Mentions that it gives the group a lot of confidence. Talking about himself, he says that he tries to keep it simple and is comfortable in his role and the consistency has been really rewarding. Tells that they need to score as many runs in the first
Did you know? Kolkata have won all of their 4 matches while chasing in the UAE leg of the Indian T20 League 2021. Have Bangalore missed a trick?
Eoin Morgan, the skipper of Kolkata, says that he wanted to bowl first anyway. Says the wicket looks a bit different and chasing doesn't look that bad. Adds that they have played some great games and the players are fulfilling the roles and they have started to peak at the right time. Informs that they are going in unchanged.
Virat Kohli, the Bangalore skipper, is up for a chat. Says that the wicket looks great and as the game progresses it becomes tougher to bat. Mentions that there are no changes. On Srikar Bharat's knock in the last game, Kohli replies that the youngsters stepping up to win the match is particularly pleasing and he is very happy for Srikar.  Shares that the meeting has been short and sharp, focus on the basics and nothing changes for them regardless of this being the Eliminator.
Bangalore (Unchanged Playing XI) - Virat Kohli (C), Devdutt Padikkal, Srikar Bharat (WK), Glenn Maxwell, AB de Villiers, Dan Christian, Shahbaz Ahmed, George Garton, Harshal Patel, Yuzvendra Chahal, Mohammed Siraj.
Toss - Virat Kohli and Eoin Morgan are in the middle. The former flips the coin, Heads is the call but it has come down as Tails. BANGALORE ELECT TO BAT!
... MATCH DAY ...
Eliminator! The name itself is enough to scare and put pressure. It's that stage of the tournament where one moment of brilliance or madness decides your future. All the hard work done in the past can quickly go down the drain if you're not on top of your game. Both Bangalore and Kolkata will be aware that the stakes are very high this evening, and it's time to either perform or perish. On that note, we welcome you all to the coverage of this match in Sharjah. Stay with us for more updates...Â
Last meeting - That was the game where Kolkata turned their season upside down. In their first match after the resumption, Bangalore and Kolkata faced each other and the former was bundled out for only 92. Kolkata overhauled the target in 10 overs, unearthed a new talent in Venkatesh Iyer and handed a thrashing to Virat Kohli in his 200th game for Bangalore. Is revenge in store?
How's the pitch? The first thing that Matthew Hayden points out is about the 'Sharjah sheen'. It's been missing so far but the Aussie informs that the sheen is back and the pitch doesn't have too many cracks. Let's hope to have a high-scoring game.
If there's one team that benefited the most from the forced break, then it has to be Kolkata. They were in the doldrums with just two wins in 7 games when the season was suspended in May. The break allowed them to rethink their strategies and they have come out more fearless in the UAE leg. Under Eoin Morgan and Brendon McCullum, who are known for their aggressive style to play the game, the players are given the license to go for the kill and you can see that in their batting. The 2-time champi
In almost every edition of the Indian T20 League, the optimistic fans of Bangalore start this slogan - 'Ee Sala Cup Namde' (this time Cup is ours) and in 2021, they've every reason to believe that this is finally the year when they can fulfill their lifelong dream of winning the elusive trophy. Bangalore have been performing with great consistency, in both the legs of this season and have all the resources to march into Qualifier 2. Their batting has always been rock solid but for a change, this
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Kolkata Knight Riders
139/6(19.4 Overs)
We are all set for the chase.
... THE RUN CHASE ...
For a change, the Bangalore openers provided a steady start. There was a conscious effort from them to rotate the strike along with punishing the bad balls. Devdutt Padikkal got out in the last over of the Powerplay but the foundation was laid for Bangalore. However, Kolkata pulled things back through their spinners. They dried out the runs and it was followed by a steady procession of wickets. Sunil Narine was in red-hot form as he hunted down Srikar Bharat, Virat Kohli, AB de Villiers and Glen
Shivam Mavi to Harshal Patel, BYE! A length ball, just outside off. Patel looks to heave it away but misses. Dinesh Karthik also fails to collect the ball. The batters sneak a bye. Bangalore end their innings at 138/7.
Shivam Mavi to Harshal Patel, A length ball, on off. Patel flicks it through mid-wicket for a couple.
Kolkata will be pleased with the way this match has gone so far. Now, the onus is on their batters to overhaul this target and secure a place in Qualifier 2. Kolkata have won all of their 4 matches while chasing in the UAE leg of the Indian T20 League 2021 and let's see what's in store this evening. Stay tuned for the chase...
Shivam Mavi to Harshal Patel, WIDE! A slower full-length ball, wide outside off. Patel leaves it alone. Wide called.
Shivam Mavi to Harshal Patel, ! RUN OUT! There was never a second run here. A full-length ball, outside off. Patel comes across and flicks it to square leg. Lockie Ferguson fumbles and there is a mix-up for the second run. They eventually decide to go for it. Ferguson collects the ball and throws it to the bowler at the non-striker's end. Mavi collects and clips the bails off before Dan Christian could make it in.
Shivam Mavi to Harshal Patel, NOT ! A low dipping full toss, around off. Harshal Patel rocks back and looks to heave but seems to miss it. They appeal and up goes the finger. Patel reviews it straightaway. UltraEdge shows Patel got the toe end of his bat on the ball and the decision has been overturned.Â
Shivam Mavi to Harshal Patel, ! CRACKED! Patel makes the most of the Free Hit. Full toss and outside off, Patel skips down the track and carves it through point for a boundary.
Shivam Mavi to Dan Christian, Full-length ball and wide outside off. Christian goes behind the line and plays it across towards mid-wicket for a single. The siren goes off and the umpire signals a no ball for overstepping. Free Hit to follow.
Shivam Mavi to Harshal Patel, Full toss around off, Patel pushes it to mid off for a single.
Lockie Ferguson to Shahbaz Ahmed, ! CAUGHT! Lockie Ferguson gets his second wicket of the game. Ahmed wanted to go big, looking for the first maximum of the game but he pays the price. A low full toss, on off, Ahmed gets under it and lifts it towards deep mid-wicket. There were two fielders converging but Mavi calls for it and takes it safely.
Lockie Ferguson to Dan Christian, LUCKY! A full-length ball, on off, Christian throws his bat at it. The ball takes the inside edge, scoots past the stumps and goes towards short fine leg. They take one.
Lockie Ferguson to Shahbaz Ahmed, A length ball, outside off. Ahmed looks to pull it away. The ball takes the bottom end and goes towards wide mid off. The batters cross for a single and a direct hit at the striker's end would have been interesting.
Lockie Ferguson to Dan Christian, A length ball, on off, Christian eases it to long off for a single.
Lockie Ferguson to Dan Christian, ! A much-needed boundary for Bangalore. Fuller and outside off, Dan Christian lifts it over extra cover and bags a boundary. Bangalore need many more boundaries at this stage.
Lockie Ferguson to Dan Christian, A slower, full-length ball, outside off. Christian looks to chase it but misses.
The man of the moment, Sunil Narine is up for a chat. He says that it came out well. Adds that to bowl in tandem with other spinners is useful as it creates pressure. Adds that there was more grip than the last game and he thinks that they have done a good job to restrict Bangalore. Tells that he will take this score any day and hopes they will chase it down comfortably.
Shivam Mavi to Shahbaz Ahmed, A couple to end the over! Mavi fires in a yorker on middle, Ahmed digs it out to square leg off the inside half. The batters call for two and get two comfortably. A good over by Mavi, just 6 runs off it. The boundaries have dried up for Bangalore.
Shivam Mavi to Dan Christian, Length ball, around off. Christian shows full face of the bat and pushes it towards mid off for another run.
Shivam Mavi to Shahbaz Ahmed, Another single now! On a length, around off. Ahmed pushes it to point off the under-edge for a single.
Shivam Mavi to Dan Christian, Dan Christian is off the mark with a single. Fuller and on the pads. Christian clips it towards long on for a single.
Shivam Mavi to Dan Christian, Play and a miss! Slightly short and outside off, Christian hangs back and looks to cut it away but misses.
Shivam Mavi to Shahbaz Ahmed, Full length and outside off. Ahmed slaps it through covers for a single.
Sunil Narine to Shahbaz Ahmed, Flatter, quicker and outside off. Ahmed looks to drive but inside-edges it to square leg. Single taken. Sunil Narine is done with his tremendous spell, 4-0-21-4.
Sunil Narine to Shahbaz Ahmed, Almost had him! Tossed up on middle. Ahmed looks to flick but gets a soft leading edge and the ball lobs wide of the bowler.
Sunil Narine to Glenn Maxwell, ! CAUGHT! Sunil Narine gets his fourth wicket! This time Glenn Maxwell departs and it's a body blow to Bangalore. Floated, full and on off, the ball is turning away. Glenn Maxwell swings hard at it but only manages to get a top edge. The ball goes towards short third man and Lockie Ferguson pouches it comfortably.
Sunil Narine to Glenn Maxwell, Another attempt for reverse-sweep but Maxwell only manages to mistime it towards point.
Sunil Narine to Glenn Maxwell, Swing and a miss! Loopy ball, around middle and leg. Maxwell looks to reverse-hit it but misses it completely.
Sunil Narine to Shahbaz Ahmed, ! Shubman Gill does all the hard work but it all goes in vain. Floated, full and on off. Ahmed gets low and slog-sweeps it aerially towards deep mid-wicket. Gill runs to his right but could not grab the ball cleanly. They take one.
Varun Chakravarthy to Glenn Maxwell, Floated, full and outside off. Maxwell blazes his drive through point for a brace. Just 3 runs off the over, Varun Chakravarthy is done with his 4-over spell - 0/20.
Varun Chakravarthy to Glenn Maxwell, Full and on off. Maxwell pushes it to covers but finds the fielder.
Varun Chakravarthy to Shahbaz Ahmed, On the pads, tucked to mid-wicket for a single.
Varun Chakravarthy to Shahbaz Ahmed, NOT ! Shahbaz Ahmed uses the review to save himself. Flighted ball, full and off. Shahbaz Ahmed comes across and looks to reverse sweep it but fails to middle his shot properly. The ball hits the pads and rolls to the leg side. Varun Chakravarthy puts in an appeal. The batters sneak a single. The umpire raises his finger after a lot of thought. Shahbaz Ahmed goes for the DRS and the UltraEdge detects an inside edge.Â
A commendable bowling show by Kolkata! They started a bit on the wrong note in the Powerplay but after that, they bounced back superbly. Kolkata unleashed their trio of spinners and Shakib, Varun and Narine did exceedingly well to pull things back in favour of Kolkata.
George Garton is the new man in.
Review time! Harshal Patel has reviewed an LBW decision. UltraEdge shows a spike as the ball passes the bat and the decision has been overturned.Â
Harshal Patel walks out.
Lockie Ferguson is back on.
Dan Christian is the new man in.
Review time! Shahbaz Ahmed has been given out lbw and he refers it. UltraEdge shows an inside edge and the decision has been overturned.
Strategic Time-Out! Kolkata have held things back very nicely. Sunil Narine has been the go-to bowler as he is looking sharp and working wonders. Bangalore need the current pair to stay in the middle and end the innings with a competitive total.Â
Varun Chakravarthy to Shahbaz Ahmed, Floated, full and on off. Ahmed lobs it towards covers off the leading edge.
Varun Chakravarthy to Shahbaz Ahmed, A dot now. Flatter and outside off. Ahmed looks to cut it away. The ball takes the inner half and bounces beside the keeper.
Sunil Narine to Glenn Maxwell, Shortish and outside off, turning back in sharply to cramp the batsman for room, Glenn Maxwell chops his attempted square cut to point.
Sunil Narine to Glenn Maxwell, Flatter and on off. Glenn Maxwell solidly blocks it.
Sunil Narine to Shahbaz Ahmed, Full and outside off. Shahbaz Ahmed steps down and hits it to long on for a single.
Sunil Narine to Shahbaz Ahmed, EDGY ! Tossed up around off, turning away a bit, Shahbaz Ahmed tries to drive but gets a thick outside edge. It sneaks through the gap between the keeper and first slip for a boundary.
Shahbaz Ahmed walks out.
Sunil Narine to Shahbaz Ahmed, WIDE! Flatter, down leg. Ahmed looks to flick it away but misses. Wide called.
Sunil Narine to AB de Villiers, ! TIMBER! Massive breakthrough for Kolkata as Mr 360 departs without doing any damage. What a night Sunil Narine is having! AB de Villiers has to walk back for 11. Narine serves a loopy ball, around middle, AB de Villiers leans forward and looks to flick it away but misses. The ball sneaks through the gap between the bat and pads to rattle the stumps.
Sunil Narine to AB de Villiers, A couple to start with! Flatter, around middle and leg. AB de Villiers tucks it to mid-wicket for a couple. Good running.
Varun Chakravarthy to AB de Villiers, Loopy ball, on off, clipped to mid-wicket for a single.
Varun Chakravarthy to AB de Villiers, Fires it very full and wide outside off, AB de Villiers leaves it.
Varun Chakravarthy to AB de Villiers, Good work in the deep by Rahul Tripathi! Full and on off. AB de Villiers sweeps it to deep square leg. Tripathi runs across in the deep and does well to save two runs for his team.Â
Varun Chakravarthy to Glenn Maxwell, Flatter and outside off. Glenn Maxwell backs away and drags it to deep mid-wicket for a single.
Varun Chakravarthy to AB de Villiers, A full toss, on off, AB de Villiers skips down and eases it to long on for one more.
Sunil Narine to AB de Villiers, Appeal for an LBW but turned down! This is full and around off, AB de Villiers gets forward and across to flick it away but misses. He gets hit on the pads. They appeal but it's not given. The impact might be outside off.Â
Varun Chakravarthy is back into the attack.
Varun Chakravarthy to Glenn Maxwell, Very full and on off, drilled down to long off for a single.
Sunil Narine to AB de Villiers, ! Good shot! Flatter and on off, AB de Villiers reverse-sweeps it past the diving point fielder for a boundary.
AB de Villiers walks out at number 5.
Sunil Narine to Glenn Maxwell, Full and on off. Glenn Maxwell rocks back and works it to deep point for a single.
Sunil Narine to AB de Villiers, Flatter and outside off, cut away to deep point for a single. AB de Villiers is off the mark.
Sunil Narine to Virat Kohli, ! TIMBER! Huge wicket for Kolkata as the set Virat Kohli has to go back. Fair to say, Sunil Narine is the go-to man for Morgan right now! Tossed up, full and on middle at 91.2 kph, it lands and spins back in. Virat Kohli is too early into his attempted heave across the line and also fails to read the spin. The ball sneaks through and rattles the leg stump.Â
Sunil Narine comes back into the attack. His figures are 1-0-4-1 so far.
Sunil Narine to Glenn Maxwell, This one spins back in from middle, Glenn Maxwell rocks back to pull but it takes the inside edge and deflects off his pads. The ball goes in the gap at mid-wicket and they cross.
Lockie Ferguson to Virat Kohli, ! Bread and butter for Kohli! A full ball, on the pads. Virat Kohli flicks it uppishly over mid-wicket for a boundary.Â
Lockie Ferguson to Virat Kohli, This was served with some pace! On a length and outside off. Kohli looks to go over covers but fails to get any bat on it. 147 kph.
Lockie Ferguson to Glenn Maxwell, Slightly full and on middle, Maxwell nudges it to square leg for one more.
Lockie Ferguson to Virat Kohli, Again full and angling on the pads. Kohli whips it to deep backward square leg for a single.Â
Lockie Ferguson to Virat Kohli, Full and on off, Kohli hits it to mid-wicket.Â
Lockie Ferguson to Glenn Maxwell, Shout for an lbw, not given! On a length, around middle and leg at 146 kph, this one nips back in after landing. Maxwell hangs back and looks to flick but seems to miss it. Kolkata appeal but it's not given. The ball rolls to point and they take a leg bye. Eoin Morgan decides not to review and the replays later show that it was clipping the leg stump. Would have been the umpire's call anyway.
Lockie Ferguson is brought back into the attack. 1/16 in his 2 overs so far.
Lockie Ferguson to Glenn Maxwell, WIDE! Ferguson misses his line as he spills it down the leg side. Maxwell misses his flick.Â
Shakib Al Hasan to Glenn Maxwell, ! Here comes the reverse-hit! This was full and on middle, Maxwell gets into the position quickly and powers it over point for a boundary. Bangalore would hope that this shot breaks the shackles.
Shakib Al Hasan to Glenn Maxwell, Full and on middle. Maxwell gets low and sweeps it to deep square leg to retain the strike. 9 from the over, Shakib finishes his 4-over spell - 0/24.
Shakib Al Hasan to Virat Kohli, Flatter and on off, Kohli punches off the back foot towards covers for a single.
Shakib Al Hasan to Glenn Maxwell, On the pads, worked on the leg side for a single.
Shakib Al Hasan to Virat Kohli, Full and on middle. Kohli heaves it to deep mid-wicket for one more.
Shakib Al Hasan to Glenn Maxwell, Loopy ball, on middle. Maxwell nudges it to the vacant short mid-wicket region for a single.Â
Sunil Narine to Virat Kohli, Floated, full and on middle. Virat defends it back on the deck. Bangalore are 70/2 at the halfway mark.
Sunil Narine to Glenn Maxwell, Full ball, outside off. Maxwell taps it to cover-point and gets off the mark with a single.Â
Glenn Maxwell comes out at number 4.
Sunil Narine to Srikar Bharat, ! TAKEN! Bharat was not middling his shots for a long time and now he pays the price for it. Sunil Narine gets a wicket in his very first over and the hero of the last match walks back for a cheap score. This was full, tossed up and around off. Possibly a carrom ball. Srikar Bharat looks to go downtown but does not hit it with much power. Venkatesh Iyer, at long off, runs to his right and takes a very good catch.Â
Sunil Narine to Virat Kohli, Flatter again, outside off. Kohli hits it softly to point for a quick single.Â
Sunil Narine to Srikar Bharat, Flatter, quicker and outside off, swept to deep mid-wicket for a single.
Sunil Narine comes into the attack now.
Sunil Narine to Virat Kohli, Narine starts with a tossed up ball, full and on middle. Kohli leans and clips it to deep square leg for a single.
Shakib Al Hasan to Virat Kohli, Very full and on off, drilled down to long off for one more.
Shakib Al Hasan to Srikar Bharat, Tossed up on middle. Bharat steps across and nudges it to deep square leg for one.
Shakib Al Hasan to Srikar Bharat, Full and slanting outside off. Bharat leaves it alone.Â
Shakib Al Hasan to Virat Kohli, Tossed up, around leg, flicked to deep mid-wicket for a single.
Shakib Al Hasan to Srikar Bharat, Slight short and outside off. Bharat hangs back and lifts it over covers for a single.
Shakib Al Hasan to Srikar Bharat, Floated, full and on middle, pushed back to the right of the bowler.
Varun Chakravarthy to Srikar Bharat, Full and on middle. Bharat clips it through mid-wicket for a single.
Varun Chakravarthy to Virat Kohli, Floated, full and around off. Kohli stays back and pushes it to covers for another single.
Varun Chakravarthy to Srikar Bharat, Stumping change is missed! Loopy ball, outside off. Bharat skips down the track and looks to play it through the line but misses.
Varun Chakravarthy to Virat Kohli, Full and on middle. Kohli gets low and sweeps it through square leg for a single.
Varun Chakravarthy to Srikar Bharat, Floated, full and around middle. Bharat looks to sweep it away, but gets it off the inner half. The ball rolls to the leg side.
Varun Chakravarthy to Srikar Bharat, Full and on leg. Bharat clips it wide of mid on for a single.
A run out appeal has been taken upstairs! The replay shows Kohli just made his ground with a good dive and it is confirmed by the third umpire as well.Â
Varun Chakravarthy is back on. Went for 7 runs in his first over.
Shakib Al Hasan to Srikar Bharat, A single now, as this is worked to long off. A good over by Shakib Al Hasan. Just 4 runs off it.
Shakib Al Hasan to Srikar Bharat, EDGY! Bharat is early into his shot this time. Floated, around off. Bharat looks to flick it to the leg side. The ball takes the leading edge and goes towards covers.
Shakib Al Hasan to Virat Kohli, Full and on off. Kohli goes back and pushes it to mid off for a single.
Shakib Al Hasan to Virat Kohli, NOT ! Virat Kohli survives. Flatter and on the pads. Kohli hangs back and tucks it to mid-wicket. Kohli is halfway down the crease, looking for a single. But he was sent back. Ferguson collects the ball and throws it to the keeper who breaks the stumps. If the wickets were hit directly, Kohli could have been a goner. The dive saves him here.
Strategic Time-Out! Despite losing Devdutt Padikkal at the very end of the Powerplay, this has been a very good passage of play for Bangalore. They have scored runs at a brisk pace and would look to continue. For Kolkata, they need to chip wickets at regular intervals to pile pressure on Bangalore. Shakib Al Hasan is back into the attack.Â
Shakib Al Hasan to Srikar Bharat, Tossed up, on off. Bharat mistimes his shot aerially towards mid on. The ball lands safely. They take another single.
Shakib Al Hasan to Virat Kohli, A single now! Floated, full and off. Kohli comes down the track and drives it towards mid off. Eoin Morgan dives to his right to make a half stop. They take one.
Lockie Ferguson to Virat Kohli, Fuller and on off, Virat Kohli uses his wrists and works it towards mid-wicket for a run.
Lockie Ferguson to Virat Kohli, Another single. Full and outside off, Virat drives it through cover-point. At the end of the Powerplay, Bangalore are 53/1.
Lockie Ferguson to Srikar Bharat, Slower one, at 117.5 kph, full and wide outside off, Srikar Bharat mistimes his drive to point. Kohli calls him through for a single.
Lockie Ferguson to Srikar Bharat, Off the mark! A touch short and on middle at 148.9 kph, Srikar Bharat glances it to deep square leg for a run. 50 up!
Lockie Ferguson to Srikar Bharat, Back of a length, around off at 145.1 kph, Bharat goes on his toes and defends it on the leg side.
Srikar Bharat walks out at number 3.
Lockie Ferguson to Devdutt Padikkal, ! DRAGS IT ON! Lockie Ferguson strikes and roars in delight. The Kiwi speeds in from 'round the wicket and lands it on a length outside off at 149 kph, Devdutt Padikkal stands back to whack it through the line but it takes the inner portion of his blade and cannons onto the stumps. The 49-run opening stand has been broken and Kolkata would be feeling a lot better now.
Shivam Mavi to Devdutt Padikkal, Fuller around middle and off, at 140.9 kph, Devdutt Padikkal opens the face of the bat and pushes it through point for one. 13 from the over.
Shivam Mavi to Virat Kohli, Fails to put it away. Full toss around off, Virat Kohli strokes it through the line but finds the fielder at the edge of the circle at extra cover. Takes a single.
Shivam Mavi to Devdutt Padikkal, Use of the feet from Devdutt Padikkal. He walks down the track to a length ball and goes hard at it. Doesn't time it well but it rolls wide of mid off and hence a run is taken.Â
Shivam Mavi to Devdutt Padikkal, Wide! Shivam Mavi is feeling the heat. Attempts a slower one but it's way down the leg side, Padikkal leaves it.
Shivam Mavi to Devdutt Padikkal, Four leg byes! They all count. Wrong line from Mavi. Serves it on a length around leg, Devdutt Padikkal fails to flick but it takes his thigh pad and speeds wide of Dinesh Karthik for a boundary at fine leg.
Shivam Mavi to Virat Kohli, Tap and run. Around off on a length, Kohli bunts it down towards wide mid off and rotates the strike.
Shivam Mavi is back into the attack. Went for 10 runs in his first over.Â
Shivam Mavi to Virat Kohli, ! Virat Kohli goes aerial and fetches a boundary. This one is served on a length, around middle and off, Virat steps back and lofts it with ease over extra cover. The fielder chases but fails to pull it back.
Lockie Ferguson to Devdutt Padikkal, Fullish and around off at 149.1 kph, Devdutt Padikkal leans forward and threads his drive through the gap at covers for a couple. 12 from the over and it's been a steady start from Bangalore.
Lockie Ferguson to Devdutt Padikkal, ! Well played! A 147 kph delivery, on a length and around the leg stump line, asking to be hit. Devdutt Padikkal picks it off his pads and deflects it wide of short fine leg.
Lockie Ferguson to Virat Kohli, Fuller and on off, Kohli works it across the line, towards wide mid on as the mid-wicket fielder tries to intervene. They take another quick single.
Lockie Ferguson to Devdutt Padikkal, A direct hit would have been interesting. Fuller and on middle, Padikkal pushes it towards mid off and scampers to the other end. The fielder misses his shy at the bowler's end as Devdutt dives in.
Lockie Ferguson to Devdutt Padikkal, Fuller and on middle, Devdutt Padikkal hits across the line but finds mid-wicket.
Lockie Ferguson to Devdutt Padikkal, ! Clever from Devdutt Padikkal. Lockie Ferguson begins with a shortish delivery, around off at 142 clicks, Padikkal hangs on the back foot, uses the pace of the bowler and glides it over short third man.Â
Lockie Ferguson is into the attack.
Varun Chakravarthy to Devdutt Padikkal, Great stop by Venkatesh Iyer! Saves a certain boundary. Fuller and on off, Padikkal blazes his drive to the right of mid off. Iyer puts in a dive to stop the racing ball. Saves three.Â
Varun Chakravarthy to Virat Kohli, Use of the wrists by Kohli. Fullish and on middle, Virat leans forward and works it wide of short mid-wicket for a single.
Varun Chakravarthy to Devdutt Padikkal, Loopy one, full and around middle, Devdutt Padikkal drives it past the bowler to mid off. They cross for another brisk run as Venkatesh Iyer fires his throw at the keeper's end.
Varun Chakravarthy is into the attack.
Varun Chakravarthy to Devdutt Padikkal, Varun Chakravarthy drags his length short and delivers it on off, Devdutt Padikkal goes back and strokes it through covers for a brace.
Varun Chakravarthy to Virat Kohli, Once again it's a great piece of running between the wickets. Tossed up, full and around off, Kohli pushes it defensively to covers and pinches one.
Shivam Mavi to Virat Kohli, ! A good over from Mavi gets spoiled in the end. Mavi goes wide of the crease and probably wants to bowl a yorker. But the execution is not there. It's a full toss outside off and Virat slices it behind backward point for a boundary.
Varun Chakravarthy to Devdutt Padikkal, Quick run. Flighted and around off, Devdutt Padikkal tries to defend but it catches the outside edge and dribbles to short third man. They steal a quick single.
Shivam Mavi to Virat Kohli, ! Once again a boundary on the last ball of the over. Fuller in length and outside off, in the slot for the cover drive and Kohli unleashes it over the infield for a boundary. It's also a no ball for overstepping. Free Hit coming...
Shivam Mavi to Virat Kohli, Another dot ball. Back of a length and outside off, Kohli opens the face of the bat late but fails to beat the short third man fielder.
Shivam Mavi to Virat Kohli, Mavi speeds in and lands it on a length outside off, Virat steps forward but fails to time his shot properly. Ends up pushing it to mid on.Â
Shivam Mavi to Devdutt Padikkal, Pitches it up and around off, Devdutt Padikkal pushes it with gentle hands towards mid off and scampers across for a quick run.
Shivam Mavi to Devdutt Padikkal, On a length, around middle and off, Padikkal helps it on the leg side but finds mid-wicket.
Shivam Mavi to Devdutt Padikkal, Starts with a delivery around middle, Devdutt Padikkal defends it back from the crease.
Who will bowl from the other end? It is Shivam Mavi.
Shakib Al Hasan to Virat Kohli, ! First of the game. Shakib gets his line fractionally wrong. It's around leg and skidding in, Virat Kohli is quick to go down as he sweeps it firmly to the deep square leg fence.
Shakib Al Hasan to Virat Kohli, Good lines from Shakib. Keeps it around off, no room, Kohli moves back and helps it to short mid-wicket.
Shakib Al Hasan to Virat Kohli, Shortish and on off, Kohli goes deep inside the crease and plays it towards extra cover.
Shakib Al Hasan to Devdutt Padikkal, Quicker one, flat and around off, once again Devdutt Padikkal punches it from the crease towards long on for one.
Shakib Al Hasan to Virat Kohli, A bit aerial but wide of the fielder. Floated and full around middle and off, holding up a bit, Virat flicks it wide of short mid-wicket and crosses for a single.
Shakib Al Hasan to Devdutt Padikkal, Starts with a flatter and shorter ball on off, Padikkal goes on the back foot and punches it towards long on. They take a single.
We are all set for the action. Out walk the players of Kolkata and they are followed by the openers of Bangalore, Virat Kohli and Devdutt Padikkal. Shakib Al Hasan to start with the ball. Here we go...
Glenn Maxwell is up for a chat. The Aussie says that they had a couple of good sessions and they are looking forward to this game. About Srikar Bharat, he says that it was an amazing night and it was great to head into the playoffs in that fashion. Mentions that it gives the group a lot of confidence. Talking about himself, he says that he tries to keep it simple and is comfortable in his role and the consistency has been really rewarding. Tells that they need to score as many runs in the first
Did you know? Kolkata have won all of their 4 matches while chasing in the UAE leg of the Indian T20 League 2021. Have Bangalore missed a trick?
Eoin Morgan, the skipper of Kolkata, says that he wanted to bowl first anyway. Says the wicket looks a bit different and chasing doesn't look that bad. Adds that they have played some great games and the players are fulfilling the roles and they have started to peak at the right time. Informs that they are going in unchanged.
Virat Kohli, the Bangalore skipper, is up for a chat. Says that the wicket looks great and as the game progresses it becomes tougher to bat. Mentions that there are no changes. On Srikar Bharat's knock in the last game, Kohli replies that the youngsters stepping up to win the match is particularly pleasing and he is very happy for Srikar.  Shares that the meeting has been short and sharp, focus on the basics and nothing changes for them regardless of this being the Eliminator.
Kolkata (Unchanged Playing XI) - Shubman Gill, Venkatesh Iyer, Rahul Tripathi, Nitish Rana, Eoin Morgan (C), Dinesh Karthik (WK), Shakib Al Hasan, Sunil Narine, Lockie Ferguson, Shivam Mavi, Varun Chakravarthy.
Bangalore (Unchanged Playing XI) - Virat Kohli (C), Devdutt Padikkal, Srikar Bharat (WK), Glenn Maxwell, AB de Villiers, Dan Christian, Shahbaz Ahmed, George Garton, Harshal Patel, Yuzvendra Chahal, Mohammed Siraj.
Toss - Virat Kohli and Eoin Morgan are in the middle. The former flips the coin, Heads is the call but it has come down as Tails. BANGALORE ELECT TO BAT!
... MATCH DAY ...
Eliminator! The name itself is enough to scare and put pressure. It's that stage of the tournament where one moment of brilliance or madness decides your future. All the hard work done in the past can quickly go down the drain if you're not on top of your game. Both Bangalore and Kolkata will be aware that the stakes are very high this evening, and it's time to either perform or perish. On that note, we welcome you all to the coverage of this match in Sharjah. Stay with us for more updates...Â
Last meeting - That was the game where Kolkata turned their season upside down. In their first match after the resumption, Bangalore and Kolkata faced each other and the former was bundled out for only 92. Kolkata overhauled the target in 10 overs, unearthed a new talent in Venkatesh Iyer and handed a thrashing to Virat Kohli in his 200th game for Bangalore. Is revenge in store?
How's the pitch? The first thing that Matthew Hayden points out is about the 'Sharjah sheen'. It's been missing so far but the Aussie informs that the sheen is back and the pitch doesn't have too many cracks. Let's hope to have a high-scoring game.
If there's one team that benefited the most from the forced break, then it has to be Kolkata. They were in the doldrums with just two wins in 7 games when the season was suspended in May. The break allowed them to rethink their strategies and they have come out more fearless in the UAE leg. Under Eoin Morgan and Brendon McCullum, who are known for their aggressive style to play the game, the players are given the license to go for the kill and you can see that in their batting. The 2-time champi
In almost every edition of the Indian T20 League, the optimistic fans of Bangalore start this slogan - 'Ee Sala Cup Namde' (this time Cup is ours) and in 2021, they've every reason to believe that this is finally the year when they can fulfill their lifelong dream of winning the elusive trophy. Bangalore have been performing with great consistency, in both the legs of this season and have all the resources to march into Qualifier 2. Their batting has always been rock solid but for a change, this
We are all set for the chase.
... THE RUN CHASE ...
For a change, the Bangalore openers provided a steady start. There was a conscious effort from them to rotate the strike along with punishing the bad balls. Devdutt Padikkal got out in the last over of the Powerplay but the foundation was laid for Bangalore. However, Kolkata pulled things back through their spinners. They dried out the runs and it was followed by a steady procession of wickets. Sunil Narine was in red-hot form as he hunted down Srikar Bharat, Virat Kohli, AB de Villiers and Glen
Shivam Mavi to Harshal Patel, BYE! A length ball, just outside off. Patel looks to heave it away but misses. Dinesh Karthik also fails to collect the ball. The batters sneak a bye. Bangalore end their innings at 138/7.
Shivam Mavi to Harshal Patel, A length ball, on off. Patel flicks it through mid-wicket for a couple.
Kolkata will be pleased with the way this match has gone so far. Now, the onus is on their batters to overhaul this target and secure a place in Qualifier 2. Kolkata have won all of their 4 matches while chasing in the UAE leg of the Indian T20 League 2021 and let's see what's in store this evening. Stay tuned for the chase...
Shivam Mavi to Harshal Patel, WIDE! A slower full-length ball, wide outside off. Patel leaves it alone. Wide called.
Shivam Mavi to Harshal Patel, ! RUN OUT! There was never a second run here. A full-length ball, outside off. Patel comes across and flicks it to square leg. Lockie Ferguson fumbles and there is a mix-up for the second run. They eventually decide to go for it. Ferguson collects the ball and throws it to the bowler at the non-striker's end. Mavi collects and clips the bails off before Dan Christian could make it in.
Shivam Mavi to Harshal Patel, NOT ! A low dipping full toss, around off. Harshal Patel rocks back and looks to heave but seems to miss it. They appeal and up goes the finger. Patel reviews it straightaway. UltraEdge shows Patel got the toe end of his bat on the ball and the decision has been overturned.Â
Shivam Mavi to Harshal Patel, ! CRACKED! Patel makes the most of the Free Hit. Full toss and outside off, Patel skips down the track and carves it through point for a boundary.
Shivam Mavi to Dan Christian, Full-length ball and wide outside off. Christian goes behind the line and plays it across towards mid-wicket for a single. The siren goes off and the umpire signals a no ball for overstepping. Free Hit to follow.
Shivam Mavi to Harshal Patel, Full toss around off, Patel pushes it to mid off for a single.
Lockie Ferguson to Shahbaz Ahmed, ! CAUGHT! Lockie Ferguson gets his second wicket of the game. Ahmed wanted to go big, looking for the first maximum of the game but he pays the price. A low full toss, on off, Ahmed gets under it and lifts it towards deep mid-wicket. There were two fielders converging but Mavi calls for it and takes it safely.
Lockie Ferguson to Dan Christian, LUCKY! A full-length ball, on off, Christian throws his bat at it. The ball takes the inside edge, scoots past the stumps and goes towards short fine leg. They take one.
Lockie Ferguson to Shahbaz Ahmed, A length ball, outside off. Ahmed looks to pull it away. The ball takes the bottom end and goes towards wide mid off. The batters cross for a single and a direct hit at the striker's end would have been interesting.
Lockie Ferguson to Dan Christian, A length ball, on off, Christian eases it to long off for a single.
Lockie Ferguson to Dan Christian, ! A much-needed boundary for Bangalore. Fuller and outside off, Dan Christian lifts it over extra cover and bags a boundary. Bangalore need many more boundaries at this stage.
Lockie Ferguson to Dan Christian, A slower, full-length ball, outside off. Christian looks to chase it but misses.
The man of the moment, Sunil Narine is up for a chat. He says that it came out well. Adds that to bowl in tandem with other spinners is useful as it creates pressure. Adds that there was more grip than the last game and he thinks that they have done a good job to restrict Bangalore. Tells that he will take this score any day and hopes they will chase it down comfortably.
Shivam Mavi to Shahbaz Ahmed, A couple to end the over! Mavi fires in a yorker on middle, Ahmed digs it out to square leg off the inside half. The batters call for two and get two comfortably. A good over by Mavi, just 6 runs off it. The boundaries have dried up for Bangalore.
Shivam Mavi to Dan Christian, Length ball, around off. Christian shows full face of the bat and pushes it towards mid off for another run.
Shivam Mavi to Shahbaz Ahmed, Another single now! On a length, around off. Ahmed pushes it to point off the under-edge for a single.
Shivam Mavi to Dan Christian, Dan Christian is off the mark with a single. Fuller and on the pads. Christian clips it towards long on for a single.
Shivam Mavi to Dan Christian, Play and a miss! Slightly short and outside off, Christian hangs back and looks to cut it away but misses.
Shivam Mavi to Shahbaz Ahmed, Full length and outside off. Ahmed slaps it through covers for a single.
Sunil Narine to Shahbaz Ahmed, Flatter, quicker and outside off. Ahmed looks to drive but inside-edges it to square leg. Single taken. Sunil Narine is done with his tremendous spell, 4-0-21-4.
Sunil Narine to Shahbaz Ahmed, Almost had him! Tossed up on middle. Ahmed looks to flick but gets a soft leading edge and the ball lobs wide of the bowler.
Sunil Narine to Glenn Maxwell, ! CAUGHT! Sunil Narine gets his fourth wicket! This time Glenn Maxwell departs and it's a body blow to Bangalore. Floated, full and on off, the ball is turning away. Glenn Maxwell swings hard at it but only manages to get a top edge. The ball goes towards short third man and Lockie Ferguson pouches it comfortably.
Sunil Narine to Glenn Maxwell, Another attempt for reverse-sweep but Maxwell only manages to mistime it towards point.
Sunil Narine to Glenn Maxwell, Swing and a miss! Loopy ball, around middle and leg. Maxwell looks to reverse-hit it but misses it completely.
Sunil Narine to Shahbaz Ahmed, ! Shubman Gill does all the hard work but it all goes in vain. Floated, full and on off. Ahmed gets low and slog-sweeps it aerially towards deep mid-wicket. Gill runs to his right but could not grab the ball cleanly. They take one.
Varun Chakravarthy to Glenn Maxwell, Floated, full and outside off. Maxwell blazes his drive through point for a brace. Just 3 runs off the over, Varun Chakravarthy is done with his 4-over spell - 0/20.
Varun Chakravarthy to Glenn Maxwell, Full and on off. Maxwell pushes it to covers but finds the fielder.
Varun Chakravarthy to Shahbaz Ahmed, On the pads, tucked to mid-wicket for a single.
Varun Chakravarthy to Shahbaz Ahmed, NOT ! Shahbaz Ahmed uses the review to save himself. Flighted ball, full and off. Shahbaz Ahmed comes across and looks to reverse sweep it but fails to middle his shot properly. The ball hits the pads and rolls to the leg side. Varun Chakravarthy puts in an appeal. The batters sneak a single. The umpire raises his finger after a lot of thought. Shahbaz Ahmed goes for the DRS and the UltraEdge detects an inside edge.Â
A commendable bowling show by Kolkata! They started a bit on the wrong note in the Powerplay but after that, they bounced back superbly. Kolkata unleashed their trio of spinners and Shakib, Varun and Narine did exceedingly well to pull things back in favour of Kolkata.
George Garton is the new man in.
Review time! Harshal Patel has reviewed an LBW decision. UltraEdge shows a spike as the ball passes the bat and the decision has been overturned.Â
Harshal Patel walks out.
Lockie Ferguson is back on.
Dan Christian is the new man in.
Review time! Shahbaz Ahmed has been given out lbw and he refers it. UltraEdge shows an inside edge and the decision has been overturned.
Strategic Time-Out! Kolkata have held things back very nicely. Sunil Narine has been the go-to bowler as he is looking sharp and working wonders. Bangalore need the current pair to stay in the middle and end the innings with a competitive total.Â
Varun Chakravarthy to Shahbaz Ahmed, Floated, full and on off. Ahmed lobs it towards covers off the leading edge.
Varun Chakravarthy to Shahbaz Ahmed, A dot now. Flatter and outside off. Ahmed looks to cut it away. The ball takes the inner half and bounces beside the keeper.
Sunil Narine to Glenn Maxwell, Shortish and outside off, turning back in sharply to cramp the batsman for room, Glenn Maxwell chops his attempted square cut to point.
Sunil Narine to Glenn Maxwell, Flatter and on off. Glenn Maxwell solidly blocks it.
Sunil Narine to Shahbaz Ahmed, Full and outside off. Shahbaz Ahmed steps down and hits it to long on for a single.
Sunil Narine to Shahbaz Ahmed, EDGY ! Tossed up around off, turning away a bit, Shahbaz Ahmed tries to drive but gets a thick outside edge. It sneaks through the gap between the keeper and first slip for a boundary.
Shahbaz Ahmed walks out.
Sunil Narine to Shahbaz Ahmed, WIDE! Flatter, down leg. Ahmed looks to flick it away but misses. Wide called.
Sunil Narine to AB de Villiers, ! TIMBER! Massive breakthrough for Kolkata as Mr 360 departs without doing any damage. What a night Sunil Narine is having! AB de Villiers has to walk back for 11. Narine serves a loopy ball, around middle, AB de Villiers leans forward and looks to flick it away but misses. The ball sneaks through the gap between the bat and pads to rattle the stumps.
Sunil Narine to AB de Villiers, A couple to start with! Flatter, around middle and leg. AB de Villiers tucks it to mid-wicket for a couple. Good running.
Varun Chakravarthy to AB de Villiers, Loopy ball, on off, clipped to mid-wicket for a single.
Varun Chakravarthy to AB de Villiers, Fires it very full and wide outside off, AB de Villiers leaves it.
Varun Chakravarthy to AB de Villiers, Good work in the deep by Rahul Tripathi! Full and on off. AB de Villiers sweeps it to deep square leg. Tripathi runs across in the deep and does well to save two runs for his team.Â
Varun Chakravarthy to Glenn Maxwell, Flatter and outside off. Glenn Maxwell backs away and drags it to deep mid-wicket for a single.
Varun Chakravarthy to AB de Villiers, A full toss, on off, AB de Villiers skips down and eases it to long on for one more.
Sunil Narine to AB de Villiers, Appeal for an LBW but turned down! This is full and around off, AB de Villiers gets forward and across to flick it away but misses. He gets hit on the pads. They appeal but it's not given. The impact might be outside off.Â
Varun Chakravarthy is back into the attack.
Varun Chakravarthy to Glenn Maxwell, Very full and on off, drilled down to long off for a single.
Sunil Narine to AB de Villiers, ! Good shot! Flatter and on off, AB de Villiers reverse-sweeps it past the diving point fielder for a boundary.
AB de Villiers walks out at number 5.
Sunil Narine to Glenn Maxwell, Full and on off. Glenn Maxwell rocks back and works it to deep point for a single.
Sunil Narine to AB de Villiers, Flatter and outside off, cut away to deep point for a single. AB de Villiers is off the mark.
Sunil Narine to Virat Kohli, ! TIMBER! Huge wicket for Kolkata as the set Virat Kohli has to go back. Fair to say, Sunil Narine is the go-to man for Morgan right now! Tossed up, full and on middle at 91.2 kph, it lands and spins back in. Virat Kohli is too early into his attempted heave across the line and also fails to read the spin. The ball sneaks through and rattles the leg stump.Â
Sunil Narine comes back into the attack. His figures are 1-0-4-1 so far.
Sunil Narine to Glenn Maxwell, This one spins back in from middle, Glenn Maxwell rocks back to pull but it takes the inside edge and deflects off his pads. The ball goes in the gap at mid-wicket and they cross.
Lockie Ferguson to Virat Kohli, ! Bread and butter for Kohli! A full ball, on the pads. Virat Kohli flicks it uppishly over mid-wicket for a boundary.Â
Lockie Ferguson to Virat Kohli, This was served with some pace! On a length and outside off. Kohli looks to go over covers but fails to get any bat on it. 147 kph.
Lockie Ferguson to Glenn Maxwell, Slightly full and on middle, Maxwell nudges it to square leg for one more.
Lockie Ferguson to Virat Kohli, Again full and angling on the pads. Kohli whips it to deep backward square leg for a single.Â
Lockie Ferguson to Virat Kohli, Full and on off, Kohli hits it to mid-wicket.Â
Lockie Ferguson to Glenn Maxwell, Shout for an lbw, not given! On a length, around middle and leg at 146 kph, this one nips back in after landing. Maxwell hangs back and looks to flick but seems to miss it. Kolkata appeal but it's not given. The ball rolls to point and they take a leg bye. Eoin Morgan decides not to review and the replays later show that it was clipping the leg stump. Would have been the umpire's call anyway.
Lockie Ferguson is brought back into the attack. 1/16 in his 2 overs so far.
Lockie Ferguson to Glenn Maxwell, WIDE! Ferguson misses his line as he spills it down the leg side. Maxwell misses his flick.Â
Shakib Al Hasan to Glenn Maxwell, ! Here comes the reverse-hit! This was full and on middle, Maxwell gets into the position quickly and powers it over point for a boundary. Bangalore would hope that this shot breaks the shackles.
Shakib Al Hasan to Glenn Maxwell, Full and on middle. Maxwell gets low and sweeps it to deep square leg to retain the strike. 9 from the over, Shakib finishes his 4-over spell - 0/24.
Shakib Al Hasan to Virat Kohli, Flatter and on off, Kohli punches off the back foot towards covers for a single.
Shakib Al Hasan to Glenn Maxwell, On the pads, worked on the leg side for a single.
Shakib Al Hasan to Virat Kohli, Full and on middle. Kohli heaves it to deep mid-wicket for one more.
Shakib Al Hasan to Glenn Maxwell, Loopy ball, on middle. Maxwell nudges it to the vacant short mid-wicket region for a single.Â
Sunil Narine to Virat Kohli, Floated, full and on middle. Virat defends it back on the deck. Bangalore are 70/2 at the halfway mark.
Sunil Narine to Glenn Maxwell, Full ball, outside off. Maxwell taps it to cover-point and gets off the mark with a single.Â
Glenn Maxwell comes out at number 4.
Sunil Narine to Srikar Bharat, ! TAKEN! Bharat was not middling his shots for a long time and now he pays the price for it. Sunil Narine gets a wicket in his very first over and the hero of the last match walks back for a cheap score. This was full, tossed up and around off. Possibly a carrom ball. Srikar Bharat looks to go downtown but does not hit it with much power. Venkatesh Iyer, at long off, runs to his right and takes a very good catch.Â
Sunil Narine to Virat Kohli, Flatter again, outside off. Kohli hits it softly to point for a quick single.Â
Sunil Narine to Srikar Bharat, Flatter, quicker and outside off, swept to deep mid-wicket for a single.
Sunil Narine comes into the attack now.
Sunil Narine to Virat Kohli, Narine starts with a tossed up ball, full and on middle. Kohli leans and clips it to deep square leg for a single.
Shakib Al Hasan to Virat Kohli, Very full and on off, drilled down to long off for one more.
Shakib Al Hasan to Srikar Bharat, Tossed up on middle. Bharat steps across and nudges it to deep square leg for one.
Shakib Al Hasan to Srikar Bharat, Full and slanting outside off. Bharat leaves it alone.Â
Shakib Al Hasan to Virat Kohli, Tossed up, around leg, flicked to deep mid-wicket for a single.
Shakib Al Hasan to Srikar Bharat, Slight short and outside off. Bharat hangs back and lifts it over covers for a single.
Shakib Al Hasan to Srikar Bharat, Floated, full and on middle, pushed back to the right of the bowler.
Varun Chakravarthy to Srikar Bharat, Full and on middle. Bharat clips it through mid-wicket for a single.
Varun Chakravarthy to Virat Kohli, Floated, full and around off. Kohli stays back and pushes it to covers for another single.
Varun Chakravarthy to Srikar Bharat, Stumping change is missed! Loopy ball, outside off. Bharat skips down the track and looks to play it through the line but misses.
Varun Chakravarthy to Virat Kohli, Full and on middle. Kohli gets low and sweeps it through square leg for a single.
Varun Chakravarthy to Srikar Bharat, Floated, full and around middle. Bharat looks to sweep it away, but gets it off the inner half. The ball rolls to the leg side.
Varun Chakravarthy to Srikar Bharat, Full and on leg. Bharat clips it wide of mid on for a single.
A run out appeal has been taken upstairs! The replay shows Kohli just made his ground with a good dive and it is confirmed by the third umpire as well.Â
Varun Chakravarthy is back on. Went for 7 runs in his first over.
Shakib Al Hasan to Srikar Bharat, A single now, as this is worked to long off. A good over by Shakib Al Hasan. Just 4 runs off it.
Shakib Al Hasan to Srikar Bharat, EDGY! Bharat is early into his shot this time. Floated, around off. Bharat looks to flick it to the leg side. The ball takes the leading edge and goes towards covers.
Shakib Al Hasan to Virat Kohli, Full and on off. Kohli goes back and pushes it to mid off for a single.
Shakib Al Hasan to Virat Kohli, NOT ! Virat Kohli survives. Flatter and on the pads. Kohli hangs back and tucks it to mid-wicket. Kohli is halfway down the crease, looking for a single. But he was sent back. Ferguson collects the ball and throws it to the keeper who breaks the stumps. If the wickets were hit directly, Kohli could have been a goner. The dive saves him here.
Strategic Time-Out! Despite losing Devdutt Padikkal at the very end of the Powerplay, this has been a very good passage of play for Bangalore. They have scored runs at a brisk pace and would look to continue. For Kolkata, they need to chip wickets at regular intervals to pile pressure on Bangalore. Shakib Al Hasan is back into the attack.Â
Shakib Al Hasan to Srikar Bharat, Tossed up, on off. Bharat mistimes his shot aerially towards mid on. The ball lands safely. They take another single.
Shakib Al Hasan to Virat Kohli, A single now! Floated, full and off. Kohli comes down the track and drives it towards mid off. Eoin Morgan dives to his right to make a half stop. They take one.
Lockie Ferguson to Virat Kohli, Fuller and on off, Virat Kohli uses his wrists and works it towards mid-wicket for a run.
Lockie Ferguson to Virat Kohli, Another single. Full and outside off, Virat drives it through cover-point. At the end of the Powerplay, Bangalore are 53/1.
Lockie Ferguson to Srikar Bharat, Slower one, at 117.5 kph, full and wide outside off, Srikar Bharat mistimes his drive to point. Kohli calls him through for a single.
Lockie Ferguson to Srikar Bharat, Off the mark! A touch short and on middle at 148.9 kph, Srikar Bharat glances it to deep square leg for a run. 50 up!
Lockie Ferguson to Srikar Bharat, Back of a length, around off at 145.1 kph, Bharat goes on his toes and defends it on the leg side.
Srikar Bharat walks out at number 3.
Lockie Ferguson to Devdutt Padikkal, ! DRAGS IT ON! Lockie Ferguson strikes and roars in delight. The Kiwi speeds in from 'round the wicket and lands it on a length outside off at 149 kph, Devdutt Padikkal stands back to whack it through the line but it takes the inner portion of his blade and cannons onto the stumps. The 49-run opening stand has been broken and Kolkata would be feeling a lot better now.
Shivam Mavi to Devdutt Padikkal, Fuller around middle and off, at 140.9 kph, Devdutt Padikkal opens the face of the bat and pushes it through point for one. 13 from the over.
Shivam Mavi to Virat Kohli, Fails to put it away. Full toss around off, Virat Kohli strokes it through the line but finds the fielder at the edge of the circle at extra cover. Takes a single.
Shivam Mavi to Devdutt Padikkal, Use of the feet from Devdutt Padikkal. He walks down the track to a length ball and goes hard at it. Doesn't time it well but it rolls wide of mid off and hence a run is taken.Â
Shivam Mavi to Devdutt Padikkal, Wide! Shivam Mavi is feeling the heat. Attempts a slower one but it's way down the leg side, Padikkal leaves it.
Shivam Mavi to Devdutt Padikkal, Four leg byes! They all count. Wrong line from Mavi. Serves it on a length around leg, Devdutt Padikkal fails to flick but it takes his thigh pad and speeds wide of Dinesh Karthik for a boundary at fine leg.
Shivam Mavi to Virat Kohli, Tap and run. Around off on a length, Kohli bunts it down towards wide mid off and rotates the strike.
Shivam Mavi is back into the attack. Went for 10 runs in his first over.Â
Shivam Mavi to Virat Kohli, ! Virat Kohli goes aerial and fetches a boundary. This one is served on a length, around middle and off, Virat steps back and lofts it with ease over extra cover. The fielder chases but fails to pull it back.
Lockie Ferguson to Devdutt Padikkal, Fullish and around off at 149.1 kph, Devdutt Padikkal leans forward and threads his drive through the gap at covers for a couple. 12 from the over and it's been a steady start from Bangalore.
Lockie Ferguson to Devdutt Padikkal, ! Well played! A 147 kph delivery, on a length and around the leg stump line, asking to be hit. Devdutt Padikkal picks it off his pads and deflects it wide of short fine leg.
Lockie Ferguson to Virat Kohli, Fuller and on off, Kohli works it across the line, towards wide mid on as the mid-wicket fielder tries to intervene. They take another quick single.
Lockie Ferguson to Devdutt Padikkal, A direct hit would have been interesting. Fuller and on middle, Padikkal pushes it towards mid off and scampers to the other end. The fielder misses his shy at the bowler's end as Devdutt dives in.
Lockie Ferguson to Devdutt Padikkal, Fuller and on middle, Devdutt Padikkal hits across the line but finds mid-wicket.
Lockie Ferguson to Devdutt Padikkal, ! Clever from Devdutt Padikkal. Lockie Ferguson begins with a shortish delivery, around off at 142 clicks, Padikkal hangs on the back foot, uses the pace of the bowler and glides it over short third man.Â
Lockie Ferguson is into the attack.
Varun Chakravarthy to Devdutt Padikkal, Great stop by Venkatesh Iyer! Saves a certain boundary. Fuller and on off, Padikkal blazes his drive to the right of mid off. Iyer puts in a dive to stop the racing ball. Saves three.Â
Varun Chakravarthy to Virat Kohli, Use of the wrists by Kohli. Fullish and on middle, Virat leans forward and works it wide of short mid-wicket for a single.
Varun Chakravarthy to Devdutt Padikkal, Loopy one, full and around middle, Devdutt Padikkal drives it past the bowler to mid off. They cross for another brisk run as Venkatesh Iyer fires his throw at the keeper's end.
Varun Chakravarthy is into the attack.
Varun Chakravarthy to Devdutt Padikkal, Varun Chakravarthy drags his length short and delivers it on off, Devdutt Padikkal goes back and strokes it through covers for a brace.
Varun Chakravarthy to Virat Kohli, Once again it's a great piece of running between the wickets. Tossed up, full and around off, Kohli pushes it defensively to covers and pinches one.
Shivam Mavi to Virat Kohli, ! A good over from Mavi gets spoiled in the end. Mavi goes wide of the crease and probably wants to bowl a yorker. But the execution is not there. It's a full toss outside off and Virat slices it behind backward point for a boundary.
Varun Chakravarthy to Devdutt Padikkal, Quick run. Flighted and around off, Devdutt Padikkal tries to defend but it catches the outside edge and dribbles to short third man. They steal a quick single.
Shivam Mavi to Virat Kohli, ! Once again a boundary on the last ball of the over. Fuller in length and outside off, in the slot for the cover drive and Kohli unleashes it over the infield for a boundary. It's also a no ball for overstepping. Free Hit coming...
Shivam Mavi to Virat Kohli, Another dot ball. Back of a length and outside off, Kohli opens the face of the bat late but fails to beat the short third man fielder.
Shivam Mavi to Virat Kohli, Mavi speeds in and lands it on a length outside off, Virat steps forward but fails to time his shot properly. Ends up pushing it to mid on.Â
Shivam Mavi to Devdutt Padikkal, Pitches it up and around off, Devdutt Padikkal pushes it with gentle hands towards mid off and scampers across for a quick run.
Shivam Mavi to Devdutt Padikkal, On a length, around middle and off, Padikkal helps it on the leg side but finds mid-wicket.
Shivam Mavi to Devdutt Padikkal, Starts with a delivery around middle, Devdutt Padikkal defends it back from the crease.
Who will bowl from the other end? It is Shivam Mavi.
Shakib Al Hasan to Virat Kohli, ! First of the game. Shakib gets his line fractionally wrong. It's around leg and skidding in, Virat Kohli is quick to go down as he sweeps it firmly to the deep square leg fence.
Shakib Al Hasan to Virat Kohli, Good lines from Shakib. Keeps it around off, no room, Kohli moves back and helps it to short mid-wicket.
Shakib Al Hasan to Virat Kohli, Shortish and on off, Kohli goes deep inside the crease and plays it towards extra cover.
Shakib Al Hasan to Devdutt Padikkal, Quicker one, flat and around off, once again Devdutt Padikkal punches it from the crease towards long on for one.
Shakib Al Hasan to Virat Kohli, A bit aerial but wide of the fielder. Floated and full around middle and off, holding up a bit, Virat flicks it wide of short mid-wicket and crosses for a single.
Shakib Al Hasan to Devdutt Padikkal, Starts with a flatter and shorter ball on off, Padikkal goes on the back foot and punches it towards long on. They take a single.
We are all set for the action. Out walk the players of Kolkata and they are followed by the openers of Bangalore, Virat Kohli and Devdutt Padikkal. Shakib Al Hasan to start with the ball. Here we go...
Glenn Maxwell is up for a chat. The Aussie says that they had a couple of good sessions and they are looking forward to this game. About Srikar Bharat, he says that it was an amazing night and it was great to head into the playoffs in that fashion. Mentions that it gives the group a lot of confidence. Talking about himself, he says that he tries to keep it simple and is comfortable in his role and the consistency has been really rewarding. Tells that they need to score as many runs in the first
Did you know? Kolkata have won all of their 4 matches while chasing in the UAE leg of the Indian T20 League 2021. Have Bangalore missed a trick?
Eoin Morgan, the skipper of Kolkata, says that he wanted to bowl first anyway. Says the wicket looks a bit different and chasing doesn't look that bad. Adds that they have played some great games and the players are fulfilling the roles and they have started to peak at the right time. Informs that they are going in unchanged.
Virat Kohli, the Bangalore skipper, is up for a chat. Says that the wicket looks great and as the game progresses it becomes tougher to bat. Mentions that there are no changes. On Srikar Bharat's knock in the last game, Kohli replies that the youngsters stepping up to win the match is particularly pleasing and he is very happy for Srikar.  Shares that the meeting has been short and sharp, focus on the basics and nothing changes for them regardless of this being the Eliminator.
Kolkata (Unchanged Playing XI) - Shubman Gill, Venkatesh Iyer, Rahul Tripathi, Nitish Rana, Eoin Morgan (C), Dinesh Karthik (WK), Shakib Al Hasan, Sunil Narine, Lockie Ferguson, Shivam Mavi, Varun Chakravarthy.
Bangalore (Unchanged Playing XI) - Virat Kohli (C), Devdutt Padikkal, Srikar Bharat (WK), Glenn Maxwell, AB de Villiers, Dan Christian, Shahbaz Ahmed, George Garton, Harshal Patel, Yuzvendra Chahal, Mohammed Siraj.
Toss - Virat Kohli and Eoin Morgan are in the middle. The former flips the coin, Heads is the call but it has come down as Tails. BANGALORE ELECT TO BAT!
... MATCH DAY ...
Eliminator! The name itself is enough to scare and put pressure. It's that stage of the tournament where one moment of brilliance or madness decides your future. All the hard work done in the past can quickly go down the drain if you're not on top of your game. Both Bangalore and Kolkata will be aware that the stakes are very high this evening, and it's time to either perform or perish. On that note, we welcome you all to the coverage of this match in Sharjah. Stay with us for more updates...Â
Last meeting - That was the game where Kolkata turned their season upside down. In their first match after the resumption, Bangalore and Kolkata faced each other and the former was bundled out for only 92. Kolkata overhauled the target in 10 overs, unearthed a new talent in Venkatesh Iyer and handed a thrashing to Virat Kohli in his 200th game for Bangalore. Is revenge in store?
How's the pitch? The first thing that Matthew Hayden points out is about the 'Sharjah sheen'. It's been missing so far but the Aussie informs that the sheen is back and the pitch doesn't have too many cracks. Let's hope to have a high-scoring game.
If there's one team that benefited the most from the forced break, then it has to be Kolkata. They were in the doldrums with just two wins in 7 games when the season was suspended in May. The break allowed them to rethink their strategies and they have come out more fearless in the UAE leg. Under Eoin Morgan and Brendon McCullum, who are known for their aggressive style to play the game, the players are given the license to go for the kill and you can see that in their batting. The 2-time champi
In almost every edition of the Indian T20 League, the optimistic fans of Bangalore start this slogan - 'Ee Sala Cup Namde' (this time Cup is ours) and in 2021, they've every reason to believe that this is finally the year when they can fulfill their lifelong dream of winning the elusive trophy. Bangalore have been performing with great consistency, in both the legs of this season and have all the resources to march into Qualifier 2. Their batting has always been rock solid but for a change, this